World War II Honoree

Allen Y. Pang

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Rockford, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HE WAS ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK AND HE AND HIS FELLOW CADETS WERE IMMEDIATELY ASKED TO VOLUNTEER FOR ACTIVE SERVICE. HE VOLUNTEERED AND WAS PUT ON GUARD DUTY THAT SAME AFTERNOON OUTSIDE PEARL HARBOR. LATER, APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE AVIATION CADET AIRCREW TRAINING PROGRAM AND UPON COMPLETION WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBARDIER-NAVIGATOR OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 452ND BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 8TH AIR FORCE. HIS GROUP FOUGHT IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE AND GERMANY. FLEW 68 COMBAT MISSIONS. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, 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 UNIT ON APRIL 7, 1945 WHEN, IN THE FACE OF REPEATED ENEMY FIGHTER ATTACKS AND HEAVY FLAK, IT BOMBED A JET FIGHTER BASE AT KALTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.