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39th Bomb Group (VH)

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Award of Distinguished Flying Cross
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HEADQUATERS TWENTIETH AIR FORCE
APO 234, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco California

GENERAL ORDERS )    
5 September 1945
NO . . . . . . . . 54) -
   Section IX

         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.


Per "Fire From The Sky - A Diary Over Japan" by Ron Greer, son of S/Sgt Herbert L. Greer, Radio Operator - the text of the order for Herbert Greer's DFC is the same with the exception:

"This crew circled the survivors and called in its position to a Dumbo, until rescue craft 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."

Note: The names of 1st Lt. Walter H. McGuire, Nav; T/Sgt Merle D. Tomlinson, CFC; and T/Sgt Joseph W. Buck, RG do not appear in GO 54 Section 9 abv .. its assumed they are probably listed on the separate orders that lists Herb's name.


Source: GO 54 Sec 9 5 Sept 1945, HQ 20th AF