World War II Honoree

Lawrence Berkoff

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Todd S. Berkoff

Relationship

Grand Nephew

2ND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A B-24 PILOT IN THE 492ND BOMBER GROUP, 8TH AIR FORCE, A CLANDESTINE UNIT WHICH SUPPLIED WEAPONS TO RESISTANCE UNITS IN EUROPE. HE WAS KILLED ON HIS THIRD MISSION WHEN HIS B-24 EXPERIENCED MECHANICAL FAILURE OVER THE ENGLISH CHANNEL SEPTEMBER 8, 1944. HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO BASE IN ENGLAND. WHEN HE REALIZED THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNMANAGEABLE AND HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT BACK TO BASE, HE STAYED AT THE CONTROLS LONG ENOUGH FOR HIS ENTIRE CREW TO SAFELY BAIL OUT AND AVOIDED CRASHING INTO A TOWN BY CRASHING THE PLANE IN A NEARBY FIELD, SACRIFICING HIS LIFE TO SAVE THE TOWN. HIS REMAINS WERE FOUND STILL AT THE CONTROLS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FOR THIS HEROIC AND SELFLESS ACT, HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS POSTHUMOUSLY JANUARY 14, 2003. THE TOWN OF LAMBOURN, ENGLAND DEDICATED A MEMORIAL TO HIS MEMORY ON JUNE 26, 2003 HONORING THE BRAVE PILOT WHO SAVED THEIR TOWN FROM DESTRUCTION.