World War II Honoree

Ernest T. Cragg

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Greenwich, Connecticut

Honored By

Edward Cragg

Relationship

Son

HE ENTERED THE FIRST OF THE WAR-ACCELERATED 3 YEAR WEST POINT CLASSES, COMPLETING BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING BY GRADUATION. HE RECEIVED ADVANCE FLIGHT TRAINING AT CRAIG FIELD AND MATAGORDA ISLAND. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, SERVING IN MANY CAPACITIES INCLUDING PILOT, FLIGHT COMMANDER AND ASSISTANT OPERATIONS OFFICER OF THE 401ST FIGHTER BOMBER SQUADRON, 370TH FIGHTER GROUP. HE COMPLETED 76 COMBAT MISSIONS, TOTALING 175 FLYING HOURS IN P-38 AND P-51 AIRCRAFT. TWO OF THOSE MISSIONS WERE AIR COVER OVER THE NORMANDY INVASION FLEET ON D-DAY. DURING THAT TIME HE COMPILED A RECORD OF 2 CONFIRMED KILLS, 2 PROBABLE KILLS AND 1 DAMAGED. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION AND THE 9TH ARMORED DIVISION AS AIR LIAISON OFFICER AND FORWARD AIR CONTROLLER; THEN TO THE IX TACTICAL AIR COMMAND AS COMBAT OPERATIONS DUTY OFFICER. FINALLY HE SERVED IN THE OCCUPATION WITH THE 70TH FIGHTER WING AT NEUBIBERG, GERMANY, AS THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF, OPERATIONS. BY WAR'S END HE HAD ATTAINED THE RANK OF MAJOR. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND THE AIR MEDAL WITH 13 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS.