Medal of Honor - Leon W. Johnson ... John R. Kane

JOHNSON, LEON W. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps, 44th Bomber Group, 9th Air Force. Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 1 August 1943. Entered service at: Moline, Kansas. Born: 13 September 1904, Columbia, Missouri. G.O. No.: 54, 7 September 1943.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 1 August 1943. Colonel Johnson, as commanding officer of a heavy bombardment group, let the formation of the aircraft of his organization constituting the fourth element of the mass low-level bombing attack of the 9th U.S. Air Force against the vitally important enemy target of the Ploesti oil refineries. While proceeding to the target on this 2,400-mile flight, his element became separated from the leading elements of the mass formation in maintaining the formation of the unit while avoiding dangerous cumulous cloud conditions encountered over mountainous territory. Though temporarily lost, he reestablished contact with the third element and continued on the mission with this reduced force to the prearranged point of attack, where it was discovered that the target assigned to Colonel Johnson's group had been attacked and damaged by a preceding element. Though having lost the element of surprise upon which the safety and success of such a daring form of mission in heavy bombardment aircraft so strongly depended, Colonel Johnson elected to carry out his planned low-level attack despite the thoroughly alerted defenses, the destructive antiaircraft fire, enemy fighter airplanes, the imminent danger of exploding delayed action bombs from the previous element, of oil fires and explosions, and of intense smoke obscuring the target. By his gallant courage, brilliant leadership, and superior flying skill, Colonel Johnson so led his formation as to destroy totally the important refining plants and installations which were the object of his mission. Colonel Johnson's personal contribution to the success of this historic raid, and the conspicuous gallantry in action, and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty demonstrated by him on this occasion constitute such deeds of valor and distinguished service as have during our Nation's history formed the finest traditions of our Armed Forces. The Medal of Honor presented to Colonel Johnson was one of five presented for that day's mission, the most ever awarded for a single combat enterprise. Three of the awards were posthumous: Lieutenant Colonel Addison Baker; Second Lieutenant Lloyd H. Hughes; and Major John L. Jerstad and Colonel John R. Kane.

KANE, JOHN R. (Air Mission)" Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps, 9th Air Force.
Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 1 August 1943.
Entered service at: Shreveport, Louisiana.
Birth: McGregor, Texas.
G.O. No.: 54, 9 August 1943:
For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 1 August 1943. On this date he led the third element of heavy bombardment aircraft in a mass low-level bombing attack against the vitally important enemy target of the Ploesti oil refineries. En route to the target, which necessitated a round-trip flight of over 2,400 miles, Col. Kane's element became separated from the leading portion of the massed formation in avoiding dense and dangerous cumulous cloud conditions over mountainous terrain. Rather than turn back from such a vital mission he elected to proceed to his target. Upon arrival at the target area it was discovered that another group had apparently missed its target and had previously attacked and damaged the target assigned to Colonel Kane's element. Despite the thoroughly warned defenses, the intensive antiaircraft fire, enemy fighter airplanes, extreme hazards on a low-level attack of exploding delayed action bombs from the previous element, of oil fires and explosions and dense smoke over the target area, Colonel Kane elected to lead his formation into the attack. By his gallant courage, brilliant leadership, and superior flying skill, he and the formation under his command successfully attacked this vast refinery so essential to our enemies' war effort. Through his conspicuous gallantry in this most hazardous action against the enemy, and by his intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Colonel Kane personally contributed vitally to the success of this daring mission and thereby rendered most distinguished service in the furtherance of the defeat of our enemies."
The Medal of Honor presented to Colonel Kane was one of five presented for that day's mission, the most ever awarded for a single combat enterprise. Three of the awards were posthumous: Lieutenant Colonel Addison Baker; Second Lieutenant Lloyd H. Hughes; and Major John L. Jerstad and Colonel Leon W. Johnson.




(National Archives)

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[safetychoice]

A fine tribute to these brave men to whom we owe so much. Their heroism was beyond words. Let us also remember that General Uzal Ent himself went on the mission. He survived but was later paralyzed for life in a flying accident. Words fail me. Thank you for this video.

[tomcataircraft]

American propaganda... The facts: This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 500 aircrewmen lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday": 310 aircrewmen were killed, 108 were captured, and 82 wounded. Allied estimated a loss of 40% of the refining capacity at the Ploiești refineries, some refineries were untouched. The damage was repaired within weeks...

[aditzaditzaditza]

killer kane

[Daniel Nordeen]

This was just the f\ist of many raids that crippled the Luftwaffe because they had no gas to train pilots to fly missions it sealed the fate of Germany. I guess they were lucky cause the abomb was meant for Hitler.

[armageddonaie]

whats everyones greatest gun? i like a rpg myself. it's easy for you to eradicate nearly everybody by using it! my roommate calls me a noob for using it but who cares. i'm somewhat unique perhaps! yet at least i didnt need to pay for the game. i downloaded it without charge by mw2forfreeZinfo (replace Z with . ) a couple of days ago

[ERDBEBEN17]

How well know the yankees to make from a defeat a great victory !

[mountainstandardtime]

It took the lives of 50 million to defeat the kraut and jap sons of bitches. If those fuckers knew they could win right now those facist bastards would start WWIII.

[NoMoreCFR]

" Faschismus ist nichts mehr denn die Fusion über Aktiengesellschaft und die Zustand MussoliniWe bist alle nicht sieht (not sees) nun jetzt. Aber Helden bist Helden , beide Deutsch und Amerikaner und alle Nationen wer Kampf als Freiheit , nicht Faschismus. Verstehen mich nun jetzt? Raise Hell!