World War II Honoree

Jesse Chambers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

La Junta, Colorado

Honored By

Tony Spehar

Relationship

Grandson

SERVED IN THE 73RD AIR WING OF THE 20TH AIR FORCE. FLEW A B-29 IN BOMBING CAMPAIGNS AGAINST JAPAN. HIS ORIGINAL TRAINING CREW WAS SPLIT UP WHEN HIS CAPTAIN BLACKED OUT ON A COMBAT MISSION, HE TOOK COMMAND AND FLEW THE MISSION UNTIL THEY HAD LEFT THE TARGET AREA. THE CAPTAIN WAS DISCHARGED AND THE CREW SPLIT UP. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.