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39th Bomb Group (VH)
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Award of Distinguished Flying Cross
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HEADQUATERS TWENTIETH AIR FORCE
APO 234, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco California

GENERAL ORDERS )    
4 September 1945
NO . . . . . . . . 53) -
   Section XIX

         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 persuant to authority delegated by Headquaters United States Army Strategic Air Forces in letter, file AG 323; subject: "Definitions 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 61st Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group.

         For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 5 June 1945. These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft assigned to the highly-successful daytime formation strike from a base in the Marianas against the urban area of Kobe, Japan. Disregarding attacks from enemy fighters and an intense barrage of heavy anti-aircraft fire in the vicinity of the target, this crew held to their briefed course to the target and dropped their bombs on the city with devastating results. On the bombing run one engine of their plane was so badly damage by flak that it was necessary to feather the propeller; and on withdrawal even more heavy flak was encountered. The return flight to their base was completed safely because of the superior skill and airmanshiip of the crew in nursing a crippled aircraft through a 1500-mile flight over enemy territory and hostile waters. The courage and determination to bomb the target and the outstanding ability displayed by these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland, reflect great credit upon themselves and the Army Air Forces.

Captain JOSEPH J. SEMANEK, Air Corps, United States Army, as Airplane Commander.

First Lieutenant GEORGE H. BARNES, Air Corps, United States Army, as Navigator.

First Lieutenant WILLIAM G. ROBINSON, (Then Second Lieutenant) Air Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.

First Lieutenant ROBERT W. WINN, Air Corps, United States Army, as Pilot.

Flight Officer DURWOOD D. BROMBRAUGH (then Master Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Engineer.

First Lieutenant WILLIAM G. ROBINSON, (Then Second Lieutenant) Air Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.

Sergeant CHARLES H. SMITH, Air Corps, United States Army, as Radio Operator.

Staff Sergeant HENRY F. KUEBELBECK (then Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Tail Gunner.

Sergeant STANISLAUS A. KAMENSKI, Air Corps, United States Army, as Blister Gunner.

Source: GO 53 sec 19 dated 4 sep 1945, HQ 20th AF