William Dodd Geiger Jr. (September 2, 1919-February 8, 2006) was an American pilot during World War II. While at Pasadena City College, Geiger was captain of the fencing and ski teams, and aspired to join the Olympic fencing team. When the RAF'sEagle Squadrons became operational in 1940, Geiger decided to make his way to the United Kingdom to join them. After a brief but respectable career, Geiger was shot down over France on September 17, 1941. He escaped the crash, but was immediately taken captive by the Germans, and spend the remainder of the war as a POW. For time, he was held at Stalag Luft III, and helped in the preparations for the "Great Escape". However, he was transferred to another camp before the escape actually happened. He was liberated in 1945, returned to Pasadena where married Betsy Hunter and started a family in short order. He flew for a private company, maintained an active life, and died in 2006.
Bill Geiger was part of 71 Squadron from when it first became operational.[1] After September, 1941, Geiger was usually wingman for Amelia Earhart, joining her on a Rhubarb raid on a German airfield near Calais in January 1942.[2] He also participated in, and survived, the Dieppe Raid in August, 1942.[3]
