World War II Honoree

Charles B. Westover

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

West Point, New York

Honored By

1st Lieutenant Harold Dorfman

Relationship

Lead Navigator

COLONEL. COMMANDING OFFICER, 448TH BOMB GROUP, 8TH AIR FORCE. COMMAND PILOT CREDITED WITH 300 COMBAT FLYING HOURS ON 42 COMBAT MISSIONS. COMMANDER, SPECIAL MISSION. THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE AIR OPERATION THE 8TH AIR FORCE HAS BEEN CALLED UPON TO EXECUTE. MARCH 24, 1945, THE PURPOSE OF THIS MISSION WAS TO DELIVER SUPPLIES BY AIR TO AN AIRBORNE ARMY WHICH HAD BEEN DROPPED BEHIND THE ENEMY LINES ONLY A FEW HOURS PREVIOUSLY, TO COVER THE CROSSINGS OF THE RHINE RIVER BY ALLIED FORCES ENGAGED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY. ALL AIRCRAFT FLEW AT TREE TOP LEVEL. THE SUPPLIES WERE DROPPED UNDER A WITHERING BARRAGE OF 20MM AND SMALL ARMS FIRE FROM THE ENEMY WHICH SEVERELY DAMAGED A LARGE NUMBER OF ALLIED AIRCRAFT AND WOUNDED MANY CREWMEN. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, LEGION OF MERIT WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, AIR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MEDAL WITH 5 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, SMALL ARMS EXPERT MARKSMANSHIP RIBBON, CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM (FRANCE) AND THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. RETIRED, LIEUTENANT GENERAL.