World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Duane Pangle
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Yellville, Arkansas
Honored By
Roger J. Roberts
PILOT OF B-17'S WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, BASED IN ENGLAND. FLEW 21 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER EUROPE WITH THE 385TH BOMB GROUP. ON APRIL 11, 1944, DURING A MISSION TO BOMB A TARGET IN POLAND, THE MISSION BELLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY FLAK AND ENEMY FIGHTERS. WITH THE LOSS OF 2 ENGINES, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ENGLAND ON THE RETURN FLIGHT. IT WAS DIVERTED TO SWEDEN, WITH A FORCED LANDING IN A FARM FIELD. HE AND HIS CREW WERE INTERNED IN THE NEUTRAL COUNTRY UNTIL SHORTLY BEFORE THE WAR ENDED IN EUROPE. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.