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HEADQUARTERS
TWENTIETH AIR FORCE
APO 234, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
| General
Orders No 53 |
4
September 1945 |
SECTION XVII
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,
D, 1926), and pursuant to authority delegated by Headquarters
United States Army Strategic Air Forces in letter, file
AG 323, subject: "Definition 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 20 May 1945. These
individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft
on a daylight strike from a base in the Marianas against
Yokohama, Japan. In route to the target they were subjected
to intense flak but they resolutely held course and released
their bombs squarely on the objective with devastating
results. At the instant of bombs away, the entire preceding
element was struck by a concentration of anti-aircraft
fire. Two of the B-29's sustaining such heavy damage that
they were forced to drop out of the formation. These crewmen
at once maneuvered their plane alongside one of the crippled
airplanes to give it protective cover. During the withdraw
from the target, they were subjected to almost continuous
heavy flak, inflicting farther damage. The courage, resourcefulness
and skill displayed by these veterans of repeated assaults
against the Japanese homeland reflect great credit on
themselves and the Army Air Forces,
Major WILLIAM O MCDOWELL, 0790752, (then Captain), Air
Corps, United States Army, as Airplane Commander.
First Lieutenant VINCENT F. JENNEMANN, 0775375, (then
Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United Spates Army, as
Pilot.
First Lieutenant PAUL E. JOHNSON, 02067982, (then Second
Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.
First Lieutenant GORDON D. WALKER, 0505586, Air Corps,
United States Army, as Bombardier.
Flight Officer JAMES J. BROWN, 18025057, (then Master
Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Flight Engineer.
Flight Officer PAUL F. GHENA, T129141, Air Corps, United
States Army, as Navigator.
Technical Sergeant KORWIN E. HAILEY, 39727369, (then Sergeant),
Air Corps, United States Army, as Central Fire Control
Gunner.
Staff Sergeant CONSTANTINE J. LEGIDAKES, 13099764, Air
Corps, United States Army, as Radio Operator.
Staff Sergeant JOHN E. LUCAS, 33683824, (then Sergeant),
Air Corps, United States Army, as Tail Gunner
Staff Sergeant WILBERT H. LYNN, 34829796, Air Corps, United
States Army, as Blister Gunner.
Sergeant ROGER M. MAGEE, JR., 12206785, Air Corps, United
States Army, as Blister Gunner.
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