William V. Tascher was born in Denver, Colorado, on February 9, 1921. He attended Horace Mann Junior High, graduated from Hoover High School in 1939, and graduated from San Diego State University in 1942. Between June and September, Tascher earned a private pilot’s license flying a Piper J-3 Cub at the Speer Flying Service in San Diego. He enlisted in the USAAC on September 11, 1942 and, upon his graduation from college, received his primary flight training with class 12th Se-L at Thunderbird Field, Mesa, AZ, in June 1943. He subsequently received basic flight training in Vultee BT-13s at Pecos AAB, TX; advanced training (twin engine) at Fort Sumner AAB, NM in Cessna AT-17s. Tascher graduated from pilot training as part of class 44A in January 1944 and was assigned to North American B-25 training at Columbia AAB, SC with additional training at Mather Field, CA. In December 1944, he was assigned to the 341st Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Squadron at Yangkai air base in China, flying combat missions against the Japanese in various models of the B-25 Mitchell and earning a DSC and Purple Heart for his service. At the end of the war, Tascher returned to the United States and was mustered out of active duty in December 1945. He would continue to serve in the Reserves until 1953. Tascher passed away in 2012.