Author Topic: Win a date with a flight model (Read 1647 times)

_Ro_ · « **Reply #30 on:** June 11, 2005, 11:33:15 PM »

Sergeant John Ray, shot the german in the back of the head with a .45 after being wounded in the stomach.

You are correct, Steele and Ray were from F Company 505th

Guppy35 · « **Reply #31 on:** June 11, 2005, 11:41:55 PM »

Guess we're on a roll

OK name the USAAF Fighter pilot Medal of Honor winners from WW2

I can think of 2 38 drivers who got it, 2 Jug drivers who got it and 2 51 drivers who got it.

Dan/CorkyJr

_Ro_ · « **Reply #32 on:** June 12, 2005, 05:49:57 AM »

Addison E Baker, 93dBG Heavy
Horace S Carswell Jr., 308th BG
Fredrick W Castle, 4th Bomber Wing
*Demas T Craw, non air mission
*Robert E Femoyer, 711th BS 447th BG
*Donald J Gott, 729th BS 452 BG
*Pierpont M Hamilton, non air mission
*Lloyd H Hughes, 564th BS 389th BG
*John L Jerstad, 9th Air Force
Leon W Johnson, 44th BG
John T Kane, 9th Air Force
Neel E Kearby, Unit unknown..near New Guinea
*Raymond L Knight, Unit unknown
William R Lawley Jr., 364th BS 305th BG
*Darrell R Lindsey, unit unknown
*Archibald Mathies, 510thBS 351stBG
*Jack W Mathis, 359th BS 303dBG
*William W Metzger Jr, 729thBS 452dBG
Edward S Michael, 364thBS 305thBG
John C Morgan, 326thBS 92dBG
Harl Pease Jr., Heavy Bombardment Squadron
*Donald S Pucket, 98thBG
*Joseph R Sarloski, 43d BG
Maynard H Smith, 423dBS 306thBG
Walter E Trumper, 510thBS 306thBG
*Leon R Vance Jr., 489thBG
*Raymond H Wilkins unit unknown PTO
Jay Zeamer Jr, unit unknown PTO

*Denote Postumous Award
If I left someone out please advise.
I spent most of the night just reading the citations.

The one that really sticks out is the citation for Sgt. Archibald Mathies, he was a ball turret gunner. That took control of the plane after the pilot was unconscious and the copilot was killed. "Sgt. Mathies and the navigator volinteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving Sgt. Mathies and the navigator aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane Sgt. Mathies' commanding officer dicided the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism. Sgt. Mathies and the navigator replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be moved and the would not desert him. They were then told to attempt a landing. After two unsuccessful efforts, the plane crashed into an open field in a third attempt to land. Sgt. Mathies, the navigator, and the wounded pilot were killed."

Lye-El · « **Reply #33 on:** June 12, 2005, 06:52:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by _Ro_

For example, the vietnamese word "di-di"(sp?) was used by senior NCO's when I entered the Army in the early 80's. Was a vietnamese word that means move fast. Guys quickly learned the meaning and used it thierselves. Over the last 20+ years it was used less. Although some younger guys would use it from time to time. They wouldn't know where the term came from but know what is meant by it.

Di di mau, di di for short. Common usage when I was in, '75-'78. As was sing-loi.. ...Sorry 'bout that.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #34 on:** June 12, 2005, 11:12:10 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by _Ro_
Addison E Baker, 93dBG Heavy
Horace S Carswell Jr., 308th BG
Fredrick W Castle, 4th Bomber Wing
*Demas T Craw, non air mission
*Robert E Femoyer, 711th BS 447th BG
*Donald J Gott, 729th BS 452 BG
*Pierpont M Hamilton, non air mission
*Lloyd H Hughes, 564th BS 389th BG
*John L Jerstad, 9th Air Force
Leon W Johnson, 44th BG
John T Kane, 9th Air Force
Neel E Kearby, Unit unknown..near New Guinea
*Raymond L Knight, Unit unknown
William R Lawley Jr., 364th BS 305th BG
*Darrell R Lindsey, unit unknown
*Archibald Mathies, 510thBS 351stBG
*Jack W Mathis, 359th BS 303dBG
*William W Metzger Jr, 729thBS 452dBG
Edward S Michael, 364thBS 305thBG
John C Morgan, 326thBS 92dBG
Harl Pease Jr., Heavy Bombardment Squadron
*Donald S Pucket, 98thBG
*Joseph R Sarloski, 43d BG
Maynard H Smith, 423dBS 306thBG
Walter E Trumper, 510thBS 306thBG
*Leon R Vance Jr., 489thBG
*Raymond H Wilkins unit unknown PTO
Jay Zeamer Jr, unit unknown PTO

*Denote Postumous Award
If I left someone out please advise.
I spent most of the night just reading the citations.

The one that really sticks out is the citation for Sgt. Archibald Mathies, he was a ball turret gunner. That took control of the plane after the pilot was unconscious and the copilot was killed. "Sgt. Mathies and the navigator volinteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving Sgt. Mathies and the navigator aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane Sgt. Mathies' commanding officer dicided the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism. Sgt. Mathies and the navigator replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be moved and the would not desert him. They were then told to attempt a landing. After two unsuccessful efforts, the plane crashed into an open field in a third attempt to land. Sgt. Mathies, the navigator, and the wounded pilot were killed."

Guys I was thinking of.

James Howard P51B pilot 354th FG 9th AF

William Shomo. 5th AF Recce Mustang pilot

Raymond Knight 350th FG, 12th AF Jug driver

Neal Kearby 348th FG Jug Driver 5th AF

Richard Bong P38 driver 5th AF

Tommy McGuire P38 driver 5th AF 475th FG

Dan/CorkyJr

_Ro_ · « **Reply #35 on:** June 12, 2005, 11:17:39 PM »

okay, I got lost last night reading and thumbing through all the CMH citations....i knew i missed a bunch.

hacksaw1 · « **Reply #36 on:** June 13, 2005, 12:45:49 PM »

Okay, I got one for y'all.

The fighter pilot's new CO was not impressed by his small size and meekness. "This fellow couldn't punch his way out of a paper bag," is what the CO said of the pilot when he met him.

Who is the pilot?
Who is the CO?

ETO, USAAF

All the best.

Cement

Guppy35 · « **Reply #37 on:** June 13, 2005, 01:08:46 PM »

Gotta be George Preddy, 352nd FG. Was it Meyer who said it about him?

John C. Meyer btw was his CO

Dan/CorkyJr

hacksaw1 · « **Reply #38 on:** June 14, 2005, 06:51:43 AM »

Yep, we have a winner...

"Dec. 1942 - Assigned to Mitchel Field, NY with I Fighter Command. He was then sent to Westover Field, Massachusetts to join a fighter squadron. He ran into I.B. "Jack" Donaldson, who he knew in Australia and pulled some favors and got assigned to the 487th FS, 352 Fighter Group. Preddy's new CO, John C. Meyer, was not impressed by the small size and meekness of Preddy. "This fellow couldn't punch his way out of a paper bag," is what Meyer said of Preddy when he met him."

http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_preddy.html

All the best.

Cement

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #39 on:** June 16, 2005, 02:44:02 AM »

Ok, I'll throw one in. It's probably too easy for you guys, but ........... what the heck.

This PTO ace earned that status on Christmas Day. Total of 18 kills and 5 probables, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Bronze Star among many others. He was one of the first aces of the PTO. Not to mention one of my personal heroes. Who was he?