World War II Honoree

Eugene Fichtenkort

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

West Point, Iowa

Honored By

Harold H. Dorfman

Relationship

The Crew 66 family

BOMBARDIER, 1ST LIEUTENANT, 35 MISSIONS OVER GERMANY IN A B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER. CROSSED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN EASTBOUND. ORDERS TO DELIVER A B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER SERIAL NUMBER 42-51549. CREW 66 ON BOARD. (LEG 1): TOPEKA ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS TO GRENIER FIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. (LEG 2): JULY 28, 1944, GRENIER TO GOOSE BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND, (LEG 3): JULY 29, GOOSE BAY TO MEEKS, ICELAND (BLEW A TIRE ON LANDING), (LEG 4): JULY 31, ICELAND TO VALLEY, WALES. BOMBER DELIVERED TO 8TH AIR FORCE. U.S. TO WALES, EUROPE. OVER WATER 21 HOURS, 8 MINUTES. ONE MONTH IN NORTH IRELAND FOR PRE-COMBAT TRAINING. NEXT STOP, SEETHING AIR FORCE BASE, NORFOLK, ENGLAND. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, SMALL ARMS EXPERT MARKSMANSHIP RIBBON. 8TH AIR FORCE, 448TH BOMB GROUP, 714TH BOMB SQUADRON, CREW 66 'BOXCARS' THE CREW 66 FAMILY 'A BAND OF BROTHERS'. LETTER OF COMMENDATION: 'YOU ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR YOUR ACTIONS TAKEN DURING THE JANUARY 16, 1945 MISSION TO RUHLAND, GERMANY. AS YOU RECALL THERE WAS MASS CONFUSION NEAR THE TARGET WHEN OUR BOMB GROUP (48 PLANES) FLEW THROUGH ANOTHER BOMB GROUP, ALL WITH OPEN BOMB-BAYS AND SOME AIRCRAFT ACTUALLY DROPPING BOMBS. IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT WE WERE TAKING EVASIVE ACTION AND IMPOSING SEVERE G FORCES ON THE AIRCRAFT, YOU (ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS) QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY CALLED ATTENTION TO CONVERGING AIRCRAFT THAT HAD NOT BEEN SEEN, THEREBY ALERTING US IN TIME TO TAKE FURTHER EVASIVE ACTION. HAD YOUR RAPID AND ACCURATE WARNINGS NOT BEEN MADE, IT IS MOST CERTAIN THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A MID-AIR COLLISION. NOT ONLY OUR CREW, BUT OTHERS ARE FOREVER IN YOUR DEPT.' RALPH J. CAMBURN, 1ST LIEUTENANT. PILOT CREW COMMANDER.