|
The
Distinguished Flying Cross |
GO
47 Sec 18 dated 28 August 1945 Issued by HQ 20th AF reads
as follows:
First
Lieutenant WILLIAM A. COSTA, 61st Bombardment
Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group, Air Corps, United States
Army.
"For extraordinary achievement while participating
in aerial flight 1 June 1945. Lieutenant COSTA was the
Navigator of a B-29 aircraft on a daylight formation strike
from a base in the Marianas against Osaka, Japan. Immediately
after bombs away, the bomber in which they had continued
on the mission despite a malfunction in one engine, was
hit by flak in a second engine. About an hour's flying
time from the target, the propeller from one of the damaged
engines broke off and, turning at high speed, struck the
fuselage. The plane was almost cut in half in mid-air.
Thereafter only two engines of the badly crippled B-29
were functioning; both of these were on the same side
and one of them was damaged by flak. They struggled along
in overcast in a right-wing-low, nose down attitude, and
the Airplane Commander was forced to tack the aircraft
back and forth across the set course, losing altitude
slowly. Although the airplane was thus constantly changing
course in a heavy overcast, Lieutenant COSTA, with an
outstanding display of professional skill and airmanship,
kept track of his position and directed the navigation
of the bomber. When they finally broke out of the overcast,
they sighted a small uninhabited island and the order
to leave the plane was given. Lieutenant COSTA, gave his
radio operator an accurate position report for transmission
before parachuting from the aircraft. All but one of the
crew were picked up the next day by rescue units. By his
remarkable display of courage and superior professional
skill, Lieutenant COSTA was substantially responsible
for the saving of ten lives. His actions reflect great
credit on himself and the Army Air Forces".
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Flight
Officer JAMES M. FRODSHAM,
61st Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group, Air
Corps, United States Army.
"For
extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial
flight 1 June 1945. Flight Officer FRODSHAM was Pilot
of a B-29 aircraft on a daylight formation strike from
a base in the Marianas against Osaka, Japan. Immediately
after bombs away, the B-29, in which they had continued
on the mission despite a malfunction in one engine, was
hit by flak in a second engine. Violent thermal currents
siezed the airplane and threw it upward and out of control.
Flight Officer FRODSHAM worked cooly and with outstanding
efficiency to assist his airplane commander in bringing
the crippled bomber under control. About one hour About
an hour's flying time from the target, the propeller from
one of the damaged engines broke off and, turning at high
speed, struck the fuselage. The plane was almost cut in
half in mid-air. Flight controls were seriously impaired
and a third engine became inoperative. Flight Officer
FRODSHAM and the airplane commander were forced to exert
all their efforts and skill to control the bomber in a
right-wing-low, nose down attitude. After about a quarter
of an hour of flying in this perilous condition, they
sighted they sighted a small uninhabited island and the
order to abandon the aircraft was given. Knowing the flight
engineer could not swim, Flight Officer FRODSHAM parachuted
from the airplane with the engineer on his back. In the
fall the engineer was torn from his back from the force
of the wind. The high courage shown by Flight Officer
FRODSHAM in risking his own life to save the life of his
comrade, professional skill and airmanship in assisting
to maintain control of the bomber reflect great on himself
and the Army Air Forces". [
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Technical
Sergeant EDWARD M. KANICK, 61st Bombardment Squadron,
39th Bombardment Group, Air Corps, United States Army.
(Missing in action) Next of Kin: Mr. Joseph Kanick, Sr.,
(father), 261 E. Abbott Street, Lansford, Pennsylvania.
"For extraordinary achievement while participating
in aerial flight 1 June 1945. Sergeant KANICK was Flight
Engineer of a B-29 aircraft on a strike from a base in
the Marianas against Osaka, Japan. Subjected to severe
flak and vicious attacks by fighters, his crew dropped
their bombs squarely in the target area with devastating
effect. Immediately
after bombs away, their plane in which they had continued
on the mission inspite of an engine malfunction, was hit
by flak and caught in violent thermal currents. With two
engines out of commision, Sergeant KANICK, by an outstanding
display of professional skill, maintained the bomber in
flight until the propeller broke from one of the engines
and struck the aircraft with great force. Althought Sergeant
KANICK could not swim, and he knew that either ditching
or bailout would be extremely dangerous to himself, he
remained at his post to aid in bringing the airplane to
an advantageous position for the emergency action. When
it was seen that the B-29 could no longer maintain flight
and the order was given to bailout. Sergeant KANICK calmly
left his post and jumped from the cippled aircraft. Althought
the remaining members of his crew were rescued by a vessel
of the United States Navy, a thorough search of the area
failed to reveal any trace of Sergeant KANICK. His cool
courage in the face of danger and his expert airmanship
reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces".
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Staff
Sergeant JAMES E. SCHWOEGLER, 61st
Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group, Air Corps,
United States Army.
"For
extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial
flight 1 June 1945. Sergeant SCHWOEGLER was Radio Operator
of a B-29 aircraft on a daylight
formation strike from a base in the Marianas
against Osaka, Japan. Athough trouble developed in one
engine after landfall on the enemy coast, the decision
was made to contiune with the mission. They bomed the
city with devastating results. When a second engine was
damaged by flak over the target, the bomber went out of
control and was thrown violently upward by thermal currents.
Control of the B-29 was finally regained, and course was
set for base at greatly reduced speed. About an hour's
flying time from the target, the propeller broke from
one of the engines and, turning at a high rate of speed,
struck the aircraft. The plane was almost severed by the
flying propeller. As a result the B-29 was left with only
two engines functioning, both on the same side, and of
these damaged by flak. It appeared highly probably that
the plane would break in half in the air, and the crew
was ordered to bailout, Sergeant SCHWOEGLER volunteered
to remain to send out position reports. He couragiously
stayed with the plane until he was certain that his final
report had been received. Only then did he bailout. Sergeant
SCHWOELGER landed safely in the water, and was later picked
up by a rescue vessel. His courage and devotion to duty
and his display of outstanding of professional ability
reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.
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