PENN YAN, N.Y. (WHCU) — A World War II veteran from Penn Yan has died. 

According to FingerLakes1.com, Richard Gillespie passed away Sunday at the age of 101. Gillespie joined the Army in 1943 and flew 21 missions over Germany during the war, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading missions that destroyed three Nazi airbases.

After the war, Gillespie finished his education at Syracuse University and ran a dairy company. He was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame last year.