| 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 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:
For
extraordinary achievement while participating in
aerial flight on 5 June 1945. These individuals
were members of the combat crew of a B-29 aircraftin
the devastating medium altitude, daylight strike
from a base in the Marianas agaist Kobe, Japan.
Shortly after leaving the inital point, they encountered
fierce enemy opposition in the form of accurate
heavy caliber anti-aircraft fire, which scored several
hits on the fuselage, and air-to-air bombing and
phosphorus bursts. During this time the enemy fighters,
two of which were shot down by the gunners from
this Superfortress, made vicious, closely pressed
attacks. In spite of these attacks these crewmen,
with outstanding courage and skill, maintained their
aircraft on the briefed heading to the objective
without evasive tactics. At the target, where defenses
were most highly concentrated, their bombs were
released squarely on the aiming point. Although
results at the time were unobserved because of huge
clouds of smoke billowing over the city, later reconnaissance
photographs revealed that the area assigned to this
aircraft was completely demolished. The courage
and fortitude displayed by these veterans of repeated
assaults against the Japanese homeland, together
with their outstanding professional skill reflect
great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.
Captain
FRANCIS E. SMITH, Air Corps, United States Army,
as Navigator.
First
Lieutenant DANIEL B. CLENDENING, Air
Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.
First
Lieutenant ROBERT H. DUDLEY, Air Corps, United States
Army, as Airplane Commander.
Master
Sergeant RICHARD W. JACOBSEN, (Then
Staff Sergeant), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Flight Engineer.
Technical
Sergeant JOHN C. DONOGHUE, (Then
Staff
Sergeant), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Central Fire Control
Gunner.
Staff
Sergeant ROLLAND R. JOHNSON, (Then
Sergeant),
Air Corps, United
States Army, as Right Blister Gunner.
|
