Former Staff Sgt. Robert D. Speed salutes Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley after receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role in the Ploesti, Italy, mission 63 years ago. Mr. Speed was a member of a B-24 Liberator Bomber crew who encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire July 15, 1944, and as a result lost one engine.
The crew still managed to complete their mission of bombing oil refineries in Romania, but was shot down the next day while participating in a raid over Austria; they were taken prisoner of war. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young)
WWII bomber crew awarded Distinguished Flying Cross
Maj. Gen. Robert Smolen, Air Force District of Washington commander and former 1st Lt. Edward McNally pay their respects during a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the “Flak Man” B-24 Liberator crew April 24 in Washington, D.C. Mr. McNally was a member of the bomber crew who encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire July 15, 1944, and lost one engine, but still managed to complete their mission of bombing the Nazi’s oil refinery lifeline in Romania. They were shot down the next day while participating in a raid over Austria and were taken prisoner of war. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rusti Caraker)
A wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the “Flak Man” B-24 Liberator crew was held April 24 in Washington, D.C.The bomber crew members were also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross 63 years after their encounter with heavy anti-aircraft fire July 15, 1944. Despite losing one engine, the crew managed to complete their mission by bombing the Nazi’s oil refinery lifeline in Romania. They were shot down the next day while participating in a raid over Austria and were taken prisoner of war.(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Rusti Caraker)
World War II’s “Flak Man” B-24 Liberator crewmembers were honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony April 24 in Washington, D.C. From right are crew members 1st Lt. Edward L. “Mac” McNally, Tech. Sgt. Jay T. Fish, Staff Sgt. Robert D. Speed and families of deceased members. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young)
WWII bomber crew members awarded Distinguished Flying Cross
4/26/2007 – WASHINGTON (AFNEWS) — It was a warm summer morning when the crew of the Flak Man, a B-24 Liberator, joined other bombers and their escort fighters on a daring mission. They flew from Pantanella, Italy, and played a key role in the bombing of oil refineries 700 miles away near Ploesti, Romania. The location was of strategic importance — Nazi Germany got 60 percent of their petroleum from the plants there.
En route, there was heavy resistance from the Luftwaffe in the air and from anti-aircraft fire on the ground. But despite heavy damage to the Flak Man, the crew was able to successfully deliver their munitions and returned to Italy, their mission complete and instrumental to halting the Nazi war machine.
The next morning, the crew was sent out again, but the Flak Man was too damaged to fly. The crew instead went out in the Black Fox, a B-24 so similar to their beloved Flak Man, they hardly noticed the difference. On the way to their target in Austria, the Black Fox was shot down, killing one of the crew, Tech. Sgt. William Magill. The others were held as prisoners until the end of the war.
In a ceremony on Capitol Hill April 24, the crew of the Flak Man was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in the Ploesti mission 63 years ago. The three living members of the original crew were on hand for the event, while representatives for the others accepted their medals.
“This is the legacy of today’s Air Force and a sign of what young Americans are all about,” General Moseley said. “They walked in the footsteps of Airmen before them just as they paved the way for us. Today’s Airmen stand on the shoulders of giants and it’s my honor to present these American heroes with the Distinguished Flying Cross.”
Humbled, yet proud, Mr. McNally also spoke to the crowd.
“Most Air Force members don’t care if they ever get a medal or not,” he said. “But should the Air Force see fit to honor me, I will not disdain it. I will cherish it.”
Wild Thing’s comment……..
We salute you and thank you. God bless you all. We are ever in their debt.
Like Frau Vader say’s Chrissie, “I guess it’s ‘PC’ to bomb Germans, Italians, Japanese and Serbs (Christians and Buddhists) but NOT Islamomaniacs!” Oh how I’m thankful that I married a bright Fraulein, eh? And she reminds me that the Serbs rescued downed U.S. aviators and cared for them while the Nazis were searching for them! Did the Nazis cut off POW’s heads too? Just curious WT! Back to my schnapps and German Spatlese white wines…Prost!
WWII, the last war we were allowed to win. We were almost totally victorious in the first Gulf War, but were not allowed to give the coup de grace to the enemy formations. They lived on to cause more problems.
How neat it is 63 years later to remember a bomber crew for their effort and sacrifice. This is a good story after a day of political posturing by lesser people.
Absolutely wonderful to hear stories like this. It’s good that they are recognised for deeds performed so long ago before they all pass on,it is an honorthat should have been awarded at the time.
I visited some of those men last week who put a greater cause before their own, there were so many of them, silent witnesses to the sacrifices we take for granted, some were family and friends others strangers, they are forever young.
A cousin of my Mothers flew a Martin B-26 as a
pathfinder for the big boys.They dropped
incindary bombs to mark the target. He was shot
down on his 3 or 4th.trip over Ploesti, Italy
and killed.One for the books was the Germans
sent his mother all of his things wallet,watch
rings and money go figure…
Darth, I love schnapps and German Spatlese.
Tom thank you. I too love stories like this.
Jack what a marvelous way to put it, thank you so much.
Tincan Sailor thank you so much for sharing about that.
Tonight on the History Channel it showed Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s MARCH TO THE SEA (300 miles long X 60 wide)in March 1865, and I didn’t need any Cialis or Viagra! He would have been my choice for Baghdad and the Anbar Province… PURGE! And Robert E. Lee surrendered three weeks later! WAR IS HELL…or used to be?