World War II Honoree

E. J. 'Jack' Hitt

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER PILOT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 337TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (HEAVY), 96TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 8TH AIR FORCE. STATIONED AT RAF SNETTERTON HEATH (AAF-138) IN ENGLAND. HIS UNIT WAS ENGAGED IN STRATEGIC BOMBING OF SHIPYARDS, SUBMARINE BASES, MARSHALLING YARDS, OIL FACILITIES, AIRFIELDS, AND AIRCRAFT PLANTS. ALSO ATTACKED ENEMY POSITIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE D-DAY OPERATIONS IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944. HIS GROUP PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR OFFENSIVE-EUROPE, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HE FLEW 47 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER EUROPE. RECALLS THE COLD TEMPERATURES AT HIGH MISSION ALTITUDES (BETWEEN 28,000 TO 30,000 FEET) WHICH COULD RANGE BETWEEN 70-90 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. THE SHEEPSKIN-LINED FLIGHT CLOTHING WAS NOT WARM AT THOSE ALTITUDES AND IT WAS ONLY LATER THAT ELECTRIC-POWERED FLIGHT SUITS WERE PROVIDED. PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME WAS KEEPING FINGERS AND TOES WARM IN SUCH COLD. AFTER THE ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE (V-E DAY), FLEW FOOD DELIVERY MISSIONS TO HOLLAND AND WAS ENGAGED IN THE REDEPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL IN THEATER. CONTINUED IN SERVICE AFTER THE WAR, AND LATER, FLEW 35 COMBAT MISSIONS AS A P-51 'MUSTANG' FIGHTER PILOT. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, AIR MEDAL WITH ONE SILVER AND THREE BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS SQUADRON DURING AN ATTACK THROUGH INTENSE ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE ON AN AIRCRAFT COMPONENT FACTORY IN POZNAN, POLAND ON APRIL 9, 1944.