World War II Honoree

Dana F. Dudley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Mapleton, Maine

Honored By

VFW Post 11242

SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AS A CO-PILOT ON A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBER CREW. ON THEIR TWENTY-SECOND MISSION THEY WERE BOMBING THE TRIPOLI AIRDOME THROUGH HEAVY FIGHTER AND ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE AND WERE HIT JUST AS THEY RELEASED THEIR BOMB LOAD. ONE ENGINE WAS KNOCKED OUT IMMEDIATELY AND A SECOND ONE QUIT SHORTLY AFTER. THEY HAD A HARROWING 4 1/2 HOUR FLIGHT BACK TO THEIR AIRDROME. ON THE WAY THEY SHOT DOWN SIX GERMAN FIGHTERS. BY ALL CREWMEMBERS COOPERATING THEY BROUGHT THE CRIPPLED BOMBER BACK LANDING WITH NO BRAKES AND ONE GAS TANK DRY AND THE OTHER WITH ABOUT 20 GALLONS LEFT.