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39th Bomb Group (VH)
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Yokohama Raid
May 20, 1945

Photo courtesy of Gordon Walker, Bombardier

L to R Standing: Paul Johnson, Radar; William McDowell, AC; Gordon Walker, Bomb; Vincent Jennemann, Pilot

L to R Kneeling: John Lucas, TG; Constantine Legidakes, Radio; Roger Magee, LG; Korwin Hailey, CFC; Wilbert Lynn, RG; James W. Brown, FE


The following is courtesy of Gordon D. Walker, Bombardier

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

General Orders No 53
4 September 1945

SECTION XVII


     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, D, 1926), and pursuant to authority delegated by Headquarters United States Army Strategic Air Forces in letter, file AG 323, subject: "Definition of Administrative Responsibilities", dated 6 August 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 20 May 1945. These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft on a daylight strike from a base in the Marianas against Yokohama, Japan. In route to the target they were subjected to intense flak but they resolutely held course and released their bombs squarely on the objective with devastating results. At the instant of bombs away, the entire preceding element was struck by a concentration of anti-aircraft fire. Two of the B-29's sustaining such heavy damage that they were forced to drop out of the formation. These crewmen at once maneuvered their plane alongside one of the crippled airplanes to give it protective cover. During the withdraw from the target, they were subjected to almost continuous heavy flak, inflicting farther damage. The courage, resourcefulness and skill displayed by these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces,

Major WILLIAM O MCDOWELL, 0790752, (then Captain), Air Corps, United States Army, as Airplane Commander.

First Lieutenant VINCENT F. JENNEMANN, 0775375, (then Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United Spates Army, as Pilot.

First Lieutenant PAUL E. JOHNSON, 02067982, (then Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.

First Lieutenant GORDON D. WALKER, 0505586, Air Corps, United States Army, as Bombardier.

Flight Officer JAMES J. BROWN, 18025057, (then Master Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Flight Engineer.

Flight Officer PAUL F. GHENA, T129141, Air Corps, United States Army, as Navigator.

Technical Sergeant KORWIN E. HAILEY, 39727369, (then Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Central Fire Control Gunner.

Staff Sergeant CONSTANTINE J. LEGIDAKES, 13099764, Air Corps, United States Army, as Radio Operator.

Staff Sergeant JOHN E. LUCAS, 33683824, (then Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Tail Gunner

Staff Sergeant WILBERT H. LYNN, 34829796, Air Corps, United States Army, as Blister Gunner.

Sergeant ROGER M. MAGEE, JR., 12206785, Air Corps, United States Army, as Blister Gunner.

Sources: Gordon D. Walker, Bombardier