World War II Honoree

Harry Crim

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Miami, Florida

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A P-51 ‘MUSTANG’ FIGHTER PILOT IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 531ST FIGHTER SQUADRON, 21ST FIGHTER GROUP, VII FIGHTER COMMAND. STATIONED ON IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS BEGINNING MARCH 26, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC, AIR OFFENSIVE-JAPAN, AND EASTERN MANDATES CAMPAIGNS. FLEW STRIKES AGAINST ENEMY AIRFIELDS, SHIPPING AND INSTALLATIONS IN THE BONIN ISLANDS. TOOK PART IN LONG-RANGE BOMBER ESCORT AND FIGHTER SWEEPS AGAINST AIRFIELDS AND OTHER TARGETS ON THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. FLIGHTS AGAINST JAPAN INVOLVED A LONG 8-HOUR ROUND TRIP FROM IWO JIMA OVER A DISTANCE OF SOME 1600 MILES. CAPTAIN CRIM SHOT DOWN TWO ENEMY PLANES ON APRIL 7, 1945 WHILE ESCORTING BOMBERS OVER TOKYO, JAPAN. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS SQUADRON ON APRIL 7, 1945 WHILE ESCORTING B-29 ‘SUPERFORTRESS’ BOMBERS TO STRIKE THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT PLANT NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.