General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

Fir& Lieutenant Bevt Marcn. Oi54022, Air Corps, Army of the United Statfa
On 20 May 1944, while serving -. as DilOt on a B-17 type aircraft during a combat
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mission over Leipzig, Germany, Lieutenant Moran.8 airplane snfEered a direct hit
from antiaircraft fire, which caused extensire damage and set it on fire. Displaying
extraordinary ability, Lieutenant Moron kept the crippled airp!ane
under control and ordered his crewmen to escape. Dlore Lieutenant Nwan
could make his own escape, the nireraft exploded, carrying him to his death.
Lieutenant Jloran'r ontstanding flyiug technique and his courageous devotion to
duty reflset great credit on himself and the Army Air Borces.
First Lieutenant Mu>-8l:alL dl. Shepherd, Oi94SSe, Air Cwps, Army of the
United States. On 8 October 1913, while serving nu pilot ou a B-17 type aircraft
during a combat mission over Bremen, Germany, Lieutcnnnt She~herd's
airplane was damaged severely by antiaircraft flre and enemy flqhter attaci-r.
Realizing that his bomber could not be flown back to England, Lieutenant
Shetlhwd ordered his crewmen to abarifion Ule airplane, himself remailling at
the controls, strnggiing to level the crippled aircraft. Before Lieutenunt
Shepherd could escape, the airplane esploded, carrying him to his death. The
superior flying nbility displayed by Lieutruaut Shepherd and his courasmus
devotion to duty reflect seat credit on himself and the Army Air H'oreea
Second Lieutenant J. 3. Vacha, 0716998, Air Corps, Army of the United
States. On 25 August 1944, while serving as bombardier on a B34 Lype aircraft
during an aerial assault mer enemy-occupied Europe, Lieutenant Vacha was
wounded seriously by antiaircraft are, which also severely damaged the airplane,
setting it on fire. Despite his painful wounds, Lieutenant Vacha fought
the flames gallantly until the airplane exgloded and carried him to his dcath.
The outslanding self-sncri6ee of Lieutenant Vacha and his courageous devotion
to duty rcflects great credit on himself and the Army lir Forces.
X..DISTINGUISHED-FLYING CROSS,l. BY direction of the President.
under the provisions of rhe net of Congress approved 2 July 192G (WD Bul. 8,
1926), a Distingnished-Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while ~articipaling
in aerial flght during the periods indicated was awarded by the War
Department to the following-named officers:
Second Lieutenant WilIianb 0. Andrewa, 0741324, Air Carps, Army of the
United States. 9 March 1915.
Captain Donald B. Gutlwie, 0417696, Air CO~DP, Army of the United States.
5 December 1944.
2. By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress
apprured 2 Jnly 1926 (WD Dul. 8, 19263, a Distinguished-Fljring Cross for heroic
achievement while participating in aerial flight during the periods indicated was
awarded by the War Department to the fallowing-named officers:
First Lieutenant Pral~lc L. Killg, JT., OE09%G, Air Corps, Army of the United
Slaie8. On 8 Nay 1944, while ?crving ns pilot on a B-17 type aircraft during a combat
mission uver Bmnswick, Germanp, Lieutenant King's aircraft ans dam;~ged
severely and set on fire by enemy fightcr action. After ordering his cremmeu to
abandon tllc airplane, Lieutenant K