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39th Bomb Group (VH)
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1st Lt. Douglas H. Wingo
Navigator
Douglas Wingo (L) and Asa Edwards, Bombardier in Hawaii while on R & R August 1945
Betty and Douglas
Wingo

Douglas went on to Medical School in Alabama, where he also did his internship and residency in Urology. Practicing that specialty, he also remained in the Army Reserve, from which he retired in 1972. His last assignment was CO of the 3345th US Army Hospital with the rank of Colonel. Around 1990, he performed surgery on his former AC, now retired Major General Leo C. Lewis. Many past Crew 8 reunions were held at Douglas' home in Birmingham.

Douglas passed away September 26, 1996.

 

HEADQUATERS TWENTIETH AIR FORCE
APO 234, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco California

GENERAL ORDERS )    
6 August 1945
NO . . . . 24 )  
Section XXIX

  

       AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED-FLYING CROSS--By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 2 July 1926 (Bull 8, WD, 1926), and pursuant to authority delegated by Headquarters United States Army Strategic Air Forces in classified letter, file 323, subject: "Delineation of Administrative Responsibilities", dated 16July 1945, announcement is made of, the award of the Distinguished-Flying Cross to the following named officers and enlisted men of the 60th Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group.

       For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 10 May 1945. These individuals were crew members of a B-29 based in the Marianas Islands which led and entire bombardment wing on a highly successful raid against a heavily defended priority target, Otake oil refinery and storage area on the island of Honshu, Japan. From the assembly point, their formation was attacked by thirty-six fighters. Throughout the bomb run, intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire was thrown up by the island's defenders a high wind far in excess of the velocity anticipated, complicated the task of these crew members. In spite of this fierce opposition, they preformed their duties so capably that all the bombs from their aircraft landed within 1000 feet of the aiming points; they touched off the formation's attack so well that ninety-five percent of the entire bomb load fell within this range. By their display of high courage and superior airmanship, they effectively carried out their assignments, contributing materially to the successful prosecution of the air war against Japan, thereby reflecting high credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

First Lieutenant Asa B. Edwards, xxxxxxx, Air Corps, United States Army, as Bombardier.

First Lieutenant Douglas H. Wingo, xxxxxxxx, Air Corps, United States Army, Navigator.


GO24 provided by Rowland Ball, Nav, P-3

Sources: "History of the 39th Bomb Group" by Robert Laird, (crew 5) and David Smith (crew 31), GO 24