World War II Honoree

Emil Cornett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Blackey, Kentucky

Honored By

Mildred C. Strunk

Relationship

Sister

STAFF SERGEANT. SERVED WITH THE 376TH BOMB GROUP, 512TH BOMB SQUADRON. ENTERED SERVICE IN THE ARMY AIR FORCE ON JULY 8, 1942. RECEIVED TRAINING AT ARMY AIR FORCE LOWRY FIELD, COLORADO WHERE HE BECAME AN AIR PHOTOGRAPHER AND WAIST GUNNER OF B-24 LIBERATOR HEAVY BOMBER. AFTER COMPLETING TRAINING HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO EGYPT ON MARCH 27, 1943. HE PARTICIPATED IN MISSIONS ON ENEMY TARGETS IN GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY, AUSTRIA, HUNGARY AND BULGARIA. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE OLDEST HEAVY BOMB GROUP OPERATING IN THE EUROPEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN THEATRES. ON JULY 14, 1944 WAS SHOT DOWN OVER HUNGARY WAS TAKEN PRISONER BY GERMAN FORCES. REMAINED A PRISONER UNTIL MAY 25, 1945 AND DURING THAT TIME ENDURED MANY ABUSES. WAS AWARDED AIR MEDAL WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN AERIAL FLIGHT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN SUSTAINED OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES AGAINST THE ENEMY. RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH A SILVER STAR AND A GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL FOR EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR FIDELITY AND EFFICIENCY. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON OCTOBER 30, 1945 AFTER SERVING 3 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AND 25 DAYS.