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: "Ddefinitions 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 62nd Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment
Group.
For
extraordinary achievement while participating in
aerial flight 5 June 1945 on a bombing mission against
the industrial area of Kobe, Japan. These individuals
were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft which
led a successful medium-altitude daylight strike
from a base in the Marianas against that extremely
important target. When they arrived at the assembly
point, bad weather interfered, making it necessary
to proceed instead to the reassembly point. The
plane originally scheduled to lead the formation
did not arrive, and they assumed the lead, guiding
the formation from assembly to the target, despite
heavy cloud cover and intense enemy opposition all
along the route. During the bombing run, they were
attacked from all quarters by both single-engined
and twin-engined enemy fighters, which dropped numerous
phosphorus bombs. The airplane was damaged by anti-aircraft
fire during the run, but with cool determination
and outstanding skill these crewmen maintained the
airplane and the formation on the bombing run. All
projectiles landed squarely on the target, and smoke
was observed to rise to a height of 18,000 feet.
The courage and fortitude displayed by these veteran
combat crewmen, together with their outstanding
professional skill in an important assignment reflect
great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.
First
Lieutenant EDWARD B. DAVENPORT, (then Second Lieutenant)
Air Corps, United
States Army, as Radar Observer.
First
Lieutenant CARL H. GABRIEL, Air Corps, United States
Army, as Bombardier.
First
Lieutenant LOUIS ORENBUCH, Air Corps, United States
Army, as Flight Engineer.
First
Lieutenant
RALPH A. WESTON, Air Corps, United States Army,
as Pilot.
Technical
Sergeant HOWARD W. HUNSINGER, Air Corps, United
States Army, as Central
Fire Control Gunner.
Staff
Sergeant JOSEPH J. JACARUSO, Air Corps, United States
Army, as Tail Gunner.
Staff
Sergeant RAYMOND J. JACOB, Air Corps, United States
Army, as Left Gunner.
Staff
Sergeant HENRY R. MOSNER, Air
Corps, United States Army, as Radio
Operator.
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