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39th Bomb Group (VH)
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Bombardier's
Badge

Decorations

dfc.gif [The Distingushed Flying Cross]

Unit Citation
and Awards

with

Service Awards wwiivic.gif [The Victory Medal, World War II]


Click on the name of the Decoration, Service Award, or Ribbon Device to learn the criteria

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1st Lt Carl H. Gabriel
Bombardier

Gabriel, Carl H., First Lieutenant, 62nd Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group, Air Corps, United States Army is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 5 June 1945 on a bombing mission against the industrial area of Kobe, Japan. These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft which led a successful medium-altitude daylight strike from a base in the Marianas against that extremely important target. When they arrived at the assembly point, bad weather interfered, making it necessary to proceed instead to the reassembly point. The plane originally scheduled to lead the formation did not arrive, and they assumed the lead, guiding the formation from assembly to the target, despite heavy cloud cover and intense enemy opposition all along the route. During the bombing run, they were attacked from all quarters by both single-engined and twin-engined enemy fighters, which dropped numerous phosphorus bombs. The airplane was damaged by anti-aircraft fire during the run, but with cool determination and outstanding skill these crewmen maintained the airplane and the formation on the bombing run. All projectiles landed squarely on the target, and smoke was observed to rise to a height of 18,000 feet. The courage and fortitude displayed by these veteran combat crewmen, together with their outstanding professional skill in an important assignment reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

Crew 47 Main Page
62nd Squadron Crew Index
Source: Per GO-66 dated 17 Sept 1945