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 classified letter, file 323, subject:
"Delineation of Administrative Responsibilities", dated
16July 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 on 2 June 1945. These individuals were part of the
crew of a B-29 aircraft based in the Marianas Islands that
directed the rescue of ten Army fliers from hostile waters
on the vicinity of the Japan Homeland. Flying their aircraft
at altitudes ranging from 100 to 500 feet in such bad weather
that they were on instruments for ten hours, this gallant
crew located the survivors who were in lifeboat. By an exceptionally
skillful use of instruments they directed a nearby submarine
to the men lost at sea. They then circled in the immediate
area giving course corrections to the naval craft until
the ten men were reported safely aboard. Although the elapsed
time from the receipt of the first SOS until the rescue
was approximately four hours, and their aircraft was at
extremely low altitude, this rescue team was not once able
to make visual sighting of either the submarine or the men
they were instrumental in saving. By their display of professional
skill and outstanding airmanship, this crew successfully
completed an exacting assignment that resulted in the saving
of ten highly trained airmen, thereby reflecting great credit
on themselves and Army Air Force.
First
Lieutenant Robert S. Laack, -------, Air Corps, United States
Army.
Second
Lieutenant Wilbur W. Wiley, -------, Air Corps, United States
Army.
Second
Lieutenant Edward M. Coon, --------, Air Corps, United States
Army.
Staff
Sergeant Lloyd W. Dunett, --------, Air Corps, United States
Army. |