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 29 May 1945. These individuals were
members of a combat crew of a B-29 aircraft on a
devastating medium altitude, daylight incendiary
strike from a base in the Mariannas against Yokohama,
Japan. From the initial point until long after bombs
away, they were subjected to a shattering concentration
of continiously pointed anti-aircraft fire which
scored several hits on this bomber, and to vicious
attacks by ten enemy fighters: Despite this fierce
opposition, however, these crewmen, maintained their
plane exactly on the briefed heading to the target
without resorting to evasive tactics. They dropped
their bombs accurately on the briefed aiming point
with devastating effect. Immediately after bombs
away, they were still under intense fire, they dropped
out of comparative safety of the formation to escort
a severly damaged Superfortress which could not
stay in position. Thereafter, unitl the coast of
Japanwas left behind, these crewmen repeatedly repulsed
attempts by interceptors to bring down the damaged
B-29. Soon after leaving the Japan coast, and still
over hostile waters, the crippled bomber was ditched.
This crew circled the survivors and remained until
a dumbo appeared on the scene. The courage and fortitude
displayed by there veterans of reported missions
against the Japanese homeland, together with their
airmanship, which was instrumental in saving the
lives of a ditched crew, reflect great credit on
themselves and the Army Air Forces.
Major
LUTHER A. JONES, JR. Air Corps, United States Army,
as Airplane Commander.
First
Lieutenant CHARLES J HOLT, Air Corps, United States
Army, as Bombardier.
Second
Lieutenant ROBERT J. LANDREGAN, Jr. Air Corps, United
States Army, as Radar Observer.
Master
Sergeant MARSHALL
A. GOLDSTON, JR., (then Technical Sergeant), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Flight Engineer.
Staff
Sergeant ALVIN KASSELL, Air Corps, United States
Army, as Left
Gunner.
Staff
Sergeant ROBERT J. DE ANGELIS, (then Corporal) Air
Corps, United States Army, as Tail Gunner.
|