William F. O’Hara; Survived 88 Days on Ice Cap in World War II

William F. O’Hara, 72, who survived 88 days on an ice cap in Greenland after a bomber crashed during World War II. He was the navigator and one of nine crewmen on a B-17 Flying Fortress that crashed Nov. 9, 1942, while searching for a missing aircraft. Two crew members and three would-be rescuers died before the survivors were saved Feb. 5, 1943. O’Hara had both legs amputated below the knee as a result of the ordeal, which was the subject of Col. Bernt Balchen’s book, “War Below Zero.” After military service, he served as register of wills in Lackawanna County, Pa., for 12 years and held a seat on the state Public Utility Commission for 11 years. On Monday in Scranton, Pa. of unannounced causes.