| 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 60th Bombardment Squadron,
39th Bombardment Group.
For
extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial
flight 25 May 1945. These individuals were combat crew
members of a B-29 aircraft flying as pathfinder from a base in the Marianas
against Tokyo, Japan. This crew was first to arrive in the target area. Flying extremely low altitude to minimize the possibilities of dropping wide of their target, their plane was immediately bracketed by a multitude of searchlights and subjected to intense flak which seriously damaged the bomber. Nothwithstanding the crippled condition of their ship, this crew resolutely continued on course for their objective. They released their bombs with such accuracy that their group, arriving a few minutes later, was able to strike the target with devestating effectiveness. The cool courage, outstanding professional skill
and high sense of duty displayed by these veterans of
repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland reflect great credit on themselves and the Army
Air Forces.
First
Lieutenant MARVIN DEMANCZUK,
Air Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.
First
Lieutenant CHARLES H. GOURLAY,
Air Corps, United States Army, as Bombardier.
First
Lieutenant RICHARD A. HARRIS (then Second Lieutenant),
Air Corps, United States Army, as Flight Engineer.
First
Lieutenant HENRY E. PITTS, JR.,
Air Corps, United States Army, as Pilot.
First
Lieutenant BAYARD J. SQUIRE,
Air Corps, United States Army, as Navigator.
Staff
Sergeant EUGENE J. BOCKMAN, Air Corps, United States Army,
as Right Gunner.
Staff
Sergeant JOHN A. DUPREE, Air Corps, United States Army,
as Radio Operator.
Staff
Sergeant JOHN H. JONES, Air Corps, United States Army,
as Left Gunner.
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