154th TRS
"154th WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON. For outstanding performance of duty in
of strategic bombing operations against the enemy. On 17, 18, and 19
August 1944, during a period of concentrated bombing attacks against the huge
Ploesti oil refinery in Rumania, the aircraft of the 154th Weather
Reconnaissance Squadron, preceding the bombers over this vital target,
conducted an extensive pre-attack of the target’s defensive
system. Prior to the attack the ground personnel worked tirelessly to have
their aircraft at the peak of mechanical condition to insure the success of
this maximum effort of the squadron. Facing defending enemy fighters and
intense barrages of anti-aircraft fire with supreme courage and utter
disregard of the extreme hazards confronting them, the pilots of these
lightly armed, unescorted reconnaissance aircraft circled, crossed and recrossed
the heavily defended target area while procuring target defense data.
The weather aircraft pilots, following the initial transmission of the
assembled detailed data, continued to traverse the target area, photographing
the progress and results of the attack and maintaining a flow of target
information to the successive waves of bomber aircraft. Utilizing the vital
data furnished by the 154th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron’s pilots, the
bomber forces carried out highly successful attacks, destroying large areas
of vitally important refinery installations and supplies. The
aggressiveness, daring and high tactical efficiency, together with the
outstanding teamwork displayed in the execution of these missions, while
inaugurating new tactics against heavily defended targets is an outstanding
example of efficiency and versatility. By the untiring efforts and devotion
to duty of the ground crews, together with the aggressiveness, courage and
professional skill of the pilots, this mission, executed in keeping with the
highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, has
contributed greatly to the hastening of the defeat of the enemy.
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL TWINING"
P51A AAF
