Laureled Sons of Dartmouth
Men Cited for Heroism and Meritorious Achievement
MAJOR JACK D. REEDER '39 has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as pilot of a B-24 type aircraft." (See August '43 issue for his award of Air Medal.)
An assistant group operations officer, Major Reeder has been with a group which has been assaulting enemy targets in France, Germany, the Balkans, Austria, and Northern Italy.
Last April while leading a wing formation on a bombing mission against a vital enemy munitions factory in France, one engine of his plane was rendered inoperative due to mechanical failure and a ruptured fuel cell sprayed the plane and waist gunners with highly inflammable 100 octane gasoline. Major Reeder ordered his crew not to fire unless absolutely necessary, and despite the danger of fire continued to lead the formation.
As the formation turned on to the bombing run, they were met by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, and another engine of the Major's plane was knocked out. Despite partial cloud cover and the difficulty of maintaining his lead position on two engines, Major Reeder skillfully maneuvered the wing through the enemy defenses for a very successful bombing run. The accurate bombing of the wing completely destroyed the target.
After turning from the -target, Major Reeder quickly rallied his formation and brought them safely to their home bases without further damage.
"By his outstanding leadership, professional skill and devotion to duty, as evidenced throughout his combat career, Major Reeder has reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America."
CAPTAIN FREDERICK E. HOWARD '38, of Bennington, Vt., has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal, each with an Oak Leaf Cluster. He is a pilot and an operations officer in headquarters of Brig. Gen. Warren R. Carter's Troop Carrier Command.
The Troop Carriers have participated in every major campaign in New Guinea, New Britain and the Admiralty Islands. At Hollandia they supplied the infantry by air after regular land routes were cut off by a landslide. Within 24 hours after Wake Island had been occupied, the "Skytrains" were landing on one end of the airstrip while the engineers were still repairing bomb craters on the other end.
The principal duties of the big transport planes consist of hauling cargo; transporting paratroops and other vital personnel; evacuating wounded; and dropping food, medical supplies and other critical items to isolated units. They are usually among the first planes to land on newly won enemy air strips.
Captain Howard entered the infantry in September, 1940, began his flying cadet training in January, 1942, received his wings in January, 1943, and has been overseas since July of that year.
SECOND LIEUTENANT PERRY P. CRAVER '44 of Webster, Mass., has been awarded the Air Medal and First Oak Leaf Cluster (Bronze), it has been announced by 15th Army Air Force Headquarters stationed in Italy.
A co-pilot, Lt. Craver has been bombing German held targets in Europe with a Liberator bombardment group. His citation reads "for meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activities against the enemy."
MAJOR FRANKLIN E. TOMLINSON '41 of the 15 th AAF has been awarded the Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters "for meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activities against the enemy."
Major Tomlinson is a squadron commander and has led his bombers in attacks on German targets in Romania, France, Austria, and most of Southern Europe. He was commissioned in July, 1941.
LIEUTENANT KEVIN GOUGH '44, of New York City, was killed in action over the North Sea on May 31, 1944. He had been awarded the Air Medal "for meritorious achievement over enemy territory" and he also had five bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and a Silver Cluster. He had flown over 40 missions over Europe and had more than 100 combat hours.
FIRST LIEUTENANT TRACY S. BREED '43, of Haverhill, N. H., for heroism displayed when he remained with his burning plane because all the crew could not bail out, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Pilot of an Bth AAF Flying Fortress, he has also been awarded, "for meritorious a'chievement" during bombing attacks on war industries in Germany and on military targets in France in close support of Allied ground forces, the Air Medal and an Oak Leaf Cluster equivalent to another award of the Medal.
For the D.F.C. his citation reads: "En route to the target, intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered by Lt. Breed's aircraft. When one of the bursting shells started a fire in the wing, he ordered the crew to bail out. Five crew members parachuted to safety, but one man found it impossible to adjust his harness. Lt. Breed unselfishly elected to remain with the burning airplane in order to save the life of his trapped crewmate.
"Courageously disregarding the exploding shells, he nosed the bomber down into a steep dive and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. He then feathered the damaged engine and skillfully piloted the aircraft and remaining crew members safely back to their base.
"The courage, self-negation and flying skill displayed by Lt. Breed on this occasion are in keeping with the highest tradition of the Army Air Forces."
His plane was hit while his group was on its way to attack a marshalling yard at Liege, one of many rail centers hit by the Bth Air Force in its widespread campaign to disrupt German communications prior to the Allied invasion of France.
Lieutenant Breed entered the Army Air Force in May, 1945, and has been overseas since April, 1944.
CAPTAIN DANIEL KRAMER '43, USAAF, has received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and eight Oak Leaf Clusters while participating in the African, Sicilian and Italian campaigns.
LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT B. SWEET '43, of Hartford, Conn., on July 18th, 1944 had completed 31 missions as navigator on a Liberator bomber out of Italy, and has been awarded the Air Medal and one Oak Leaf Cluster.
CAPTAIN ROGER E. WATSON '36, of the United States Army Medical Corps has received the Silver Star in France as of June, 1944.
LIEUTENANT WARREN VAN DYK '43, of the USAAF has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and two Oak Leaf Clusters. He pilots a Thunderbolt Fighter from England.
CAPTAIN HAROLD Q. HILLMAN '40, of the USAAF, now a prisoner of war in Germany, has been awarded the Air Medal and one Oak Leaf Cluster. He was on his 14th mission when his plane was forced down in Jugoslavia.
LIEUTENANT JOHN J. MURPHY JR., '44, bombardier on a Liberator, and now a prisoner of war in Germany has been awarded the Air Medal and four Oak Leaf Clusters.
FIRST LIEUTENANT ROGERS BLOOD '44, USMC, of Manchester, N. H., gave his life for his country on Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, last February 18. Posthumously he has been awarded the Silver Star Medal "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a platoon leader attached to the S2nd Marines, Reinforced, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, on February 18, 1944. Promptly and skillfully organizing his men upon landing, Ist Lieut. Blood courageously led his platoon in a valiant charge across open terrain in the face of severe hostile machine-gun, mortar, and rifle fire to dislodge the heavily entrenched enemy. Although he was killed during the action, his heroic leadership and indomitable fighting spirit so inspired his men that they unhesitatingly pressed forward under the continuing Japanese fire and successfully routed the hostile forces. First Lieutenant Blood's great personal valor and self-sacrificing efforts under extremely hazardous conditions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."
The son of Robert M. Blood 'O6, he was one of a small group of reserve Marines to win a commission in the regular corps. He left Dartmouth and enlisted in the Marines in January, 1942. He won officer's bars after serving as a "boot" and later as a drill instructor at Parris Island, S. C.
CAPTAIN RANDALL T. COX '26, USAAF, from Marblehead, Mass., who has been serving in a Troop Carrier Command has been awarded the Air Medal.
LCEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN C. MEYER '4l, 4 an Bth Air Force fighter pilot, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for destroying three enemy planes while dispersing two large formations of Ger- man aircraft attempting to attack escorted American bombers. He also holds the Dis- tinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters; the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Silver Star.
CO-PILOT OF A FLYING FORTRESS, Ist Lt. Herdman S. Porter '45, AAF, has been awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Medal for courage and skill in combat.
