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 officer and enlisted
men, organization indicated:
Lieutenant
Colonel JAMES H. THOMPSON, 39th Bomb Group,
Air Corps, United States Army. For extraordinary
achievement while participating in aerial flight
from 27 March 1945 to 15 August 1945. In spite
of the administrative burden that he bore as
Operations Officer of this group, Colonel THOMPSON
acted as Air Group Commander of the planes of
his organization in a series of devatating attacks
on Japanese targets, including Tokyo, Tokushima,
Uwajima, and Kobe. On the strikes at Tokyo and
Tokushima, Colonel THOMPSON flew in the pathfinder
aircraft and succeeded in marking the targets
so well that the main force which followed him
was able to bomb the assigned targets with outstanding
results. On the raids on Uwajima and Kobe, his
plane carried out excellent jobs of bombing
despite determined opposition. On these missions
Colonel THOMPSON's B-29 was subjected to heavy
concentrations of enemy flak and to vicious
attacks by hostile fighters. Nevertheless, his
courage and outstanding airmenship contributed
to the successful accomplishment of these missions.
This veteran combat officer's accomplishments
reflect great credit on himself and the Army
Air Forces.
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