The signatories
Maj. George T. Chandler
P-38 Ace - George Chandler flew the legendary Lockheed P-38
fighter in the Southwest Pacific, becoming an Ace. Chandler’s
most memorable mission occurred as he was above Bougainville
leading the second flight of four Lightnings. He could hear the
fighter controller vectoring other aircraft to intercept a big
Japanese raid of almost 150 aircraft. The Lightnings flying high
cover over the fleet, dived to engage the Japanese fighters.
Chandler saw two Zero fighters diving on a transport that was
just off-loading troops. The P-38 quickly overtook the Japanese
fighters and shot them both down. Among his decorations are the
Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with eleven oak
leaf clusters. |
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Maj. William B. Berry
William Berry enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1943, becoming
a B-25 pilot. On Dec. l0, 1944, Berry awoke with a premonition
that his next mission would be his last. Over the target in Northern
Italy, heavy flak hit Berry’s airplane and Berry ordered
the surviving crew to bail out and followed them. Winter in the
Alps, alone, with no survival equipment, no food, 250 miles behind
enemy lines – this was Berry’s situation. He made contact
with a group of remarkably brave individuals, members of the
Italian resistance. So quickly did Berry adapt to the Partisan’s
life that he was made commander of a 40 man-unit on Mount Pizzoc
and spent l44 days as a Partisan. For his gallantry and devotion
to duty, Berry was awarded the Silver Star. |
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Col. Bernard F. Fisher
Medal of Honor Recipient - Col. Bernard Fisher received the
first of 12 Medals of Honor awarded to members of the Air Force
during the Vietnam War. Flying an A-1 in close air support for
a Special Forces camp under attack by thousands of North Vietnamese
regulars, Fisher found a hole in the cloud deck and dove to the
attack. Another A-1 was hit and forced to belly land on a badly
damaged runway. Although low on fuel, Fisher landed on the runway
that was too short for a Skyraider and his plan ran off the end.
The downed pilot sprinted to Fisher’s airplane but could
not climb up. Fisher pulled him headfirst into the cockpit. Among
his decorations are the World War II Victory Medal, The American
Campaign Medal, one Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters representing
200 combat missions in Vietnam, the Distinguished Flying Cross
and a Silver Star. |
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Capt. Norman J. “Dusty” Kleiss
Dusty Kleiss would find himself playing a key role in the
most important naval battle of WWII, at Midway in 1942, changing
the course of WWII. Kleiss first saw action in a series of hit-and-run
raids on Japanese installations, resulting in Kleiss receiving
the Distinguished Flying Cross. On June 4, 1942, Kleiss launched
off the Enterprise and located the carrier Kaga. The ensuing
attack turned Kaga into a blazing inferno. Later that day Kleiss
and six other SBDs sank the carrier Hiryu. The next day Kleiss
led his section of three Dauntlesses against the heavy cruisers,
Mogami and Mikuma. Repeated hits caused Mikuma to sink and Mogami
was severely damaged. For his role in these actions around Midway,
Kleiss received the Navy Cross. |
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Cdr. Don W. McMillan
Don McMillan’s first assignment was as an Avenger torpedo
bomber pilot. He took part in strikes on Guam, Iwo Jima, Mindanao,
Chichi Jima, Taiwan and Okinawa, flying off the USS Lexington.
CDR McMillan played a key role in the destruction of the last
carriers in the Japanese navy during the Battle of LeyteGulf.
On October 25, McMillan and VT-19 came in low to deliver torpedoes
into the side of the carrier Zuikaku, one of the Japanese carriers
that participated in the Pearl Harbor attack. Despite extremely
heavy anti-aircraft fire, at least five torpedoes struck the
Zuikaku and within an hour she sank. For his bravery in pressing
home the attack on Zuikaru, McMillan was awarded the Navy Cross. |
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Elmer Smith
Representing the 352nd Fighter Group, USAAF - Flying P-47
Thunderbolts and later P-51 Mustangs, the 352nd became one of
the most successful and highly decorated fighter squadrons in
WWII. The group flew nearly 60,000 combat hours in 19 months;
claimed 519 aerial victories and produced 29 Aces. The most memorable
event in the history of the 352nd occurred on New Year’s
Day, 1945 when the Luftwaffe launched an attack on 16 allied
airfields. Suspecting an early-morning raid, the Group’s
Mustangs were warming up on the runway when the first German
fighters roared in. During the ensuing melee, nearly 30 Luftwaffe
fighters were claimed downed without loss. For their actions
that day, three of the Group’s pilots received the Distinguished
Service Cross and four others received Silver Stars. |