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 22 June 1945. These individuals were
members of the combat crew of a B-29 aircraft which
lead an entire bombardment squadron in the devastating
medium altitude, daylight strike from a base in
the Marianas against the important Mitsubishi aircraft
plant at Tamashima, Japan. Fron the intial point
to the target area, they were subjected to continuously
pointed, heavy calber flak and vicious and agressive
attacks by fighter planes, some of which dropped
phosphorus bombs. Despite these difficulties, this
crew, with cool courage and outstanding skill, maintained
their plane exactly on the briefed heading to the
target without evasive tactics. At the target, where
defenses were most highly concentrated, they dropped
their bombs with such accuracy that one hundred
percent of them fell squarely on the target with
devastating effects. Synchronizing with the lead
plane, the remaining aircraft in the formation also
dropped all of their bombs on the objective. Later
reconnaissance photographs revealed that, as a result
of this mission, eighty-five percent of this new
and vital aircraft plant was destroyed. The courage
and fortitude displayed by these veteran of repeated
assults against the Japanese homeland reflect great
credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.
Captain
PATRICK J MARTIN, Air Corps, United States Army,
as Airplane Commander.
First
Lieutenant HENRY R. DONNELLY, Air Corps, United
States Army, as Pilot.
First
Lieutenant CHARLES A. FERGUSON, (then Second
Lieutenant), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Navigator.
First
Lieutenant KENDALL P. SMITH, (then
Second
Lieutenant), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Bombardier.
First
Lieutenant
JOHN A. WANDS, (then
Second
Lieutenant), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.
First
Lieutenant
GEORGE W. BURNELL, Air Corps, United States Army,
as Flight Engineer.
Staff
Sergeant ROBERT R. MALINGSKI, Air Corps, United
States Army, as Radio Operator.
Technical
Sergeant WILLIAM J. WALLACE, (then Sergeant), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Central
Fire Control Gunner.
Staff
Sergeant EDWARD G. FOX, Air Corps, United States
Army, as Left Gunner.
Staff
Sergeant MARION D. FOSTER, (then Sergeant), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Tail Gunner.
|