Lawrence Powell was born on May 17, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on January 30, 1943, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Moultrie Field, Georgia, on December 5, 1943. After completing P-51 Mustang training, Lt Powell was assigned to the 505th Fighter Squadron of the 339th Fighter Group in England in June 1944. He was credited with the destruction of 2.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, plus 3.5 on the ground while strafing enemy airfields, before being shot down on January 14, 1945. Lt Powell was captured in Holland on January 16, and was held as a Prisoner of War until the end of the war. Powell left active duty and joined the California Air National Guard on January 19, 1947, serving with the 195th Fighter Squadron at Van Nuys ANGB, California, from January 1947 to February 1955, and then with the 146th Fighter Bomber Group at Van Nuys from February 1955 to September 1958. Col Powell served as commander of the 195th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Van Nuys from September 1958 to February 1960, followed by service as operations officer for the 146th Tactical Fighter Group at Van Nuys from February 1960 until his retirement from the Air National Guard on May 1, 1963.