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)
A delayed recognition for Valor and Bravery to WWII Vets.
At the time, they could not imagine being alive, as old men, 63 years later.
They, receiving DFCs, for what they considered just” doing their jobs”.
They, who were not guaranteed another sunrise, went out into the unknown on almost a daily basis, fighting for their country, for their families, and for us, the future.
Where do we find such men?
We are ever in their debt.
ping
*Salute*
Better late than never. Thanks for your service and bravery, men.
I visit an old gent about one a year who was on the Ploesti raid. He was a B24 pilot. Basically said the raid was snafud from start to finish. Clound cover prevented them from finding the IP and target. Formations came in from the wrong direction at the wrong time because of nav errors, etc. The site was more heavily defended than thought. He flew out of N Africa. Nice old gent.
This guy is still a mechanic at a small airport in Iowa.
They flew from Pantanella, Italy
While they may have bombed Ploesti, it was not as part of the epic attack.
Looking here, it appears that The Black Fox was shot down over Austria on July 16, 1944. Sounds like a match. (A Black Fox II went down over Germany in late 1944).
For Flak Man, it shows
01/20/45 Taxi Accident
03/19/45 Landing Accident
(PDF file) http://www.zplace2b.com/464th/images/464-AC-Jan07.pdf
Heartwarming story, SandRat.
I just spoke with a B-24 radio operator yesterday that had 34 missions over Germany and a DFC.