World War II Honoree

Donald Murray Cresap

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lewistown, Montana

Honored By

Kelly Cresap

Relationship

Son

HE PILOTED THE TWIN-TAILED B24 AIRPLANE OVER EUROPE FROM AN AIR BASE IN ITALY. HE FLEW 16 MISSIONS AT AGE 19 AND 20. ONE STAND-OUT MISSION: RETURNING TO ITALY AFTER A NINE-HOUR SORTIE TO VIENNA, HE LEARNED THAT HIS BASE AIRPORT WAS CLOSED DUE TO THE PREVIOUS PLANE'S HAVING LANDED WITH A BOMB STUCK IN ITS BOMB BAY: THE BOMB HAD EXPLODED ON IMPACT, DESTROYING THE PLANE, KILLING THE CREW, AND TEARING A HOLE IN THE RUNWAY. HE WAS UNABLE TO LAND ELSEWHERE, HOWEVER, SINCE HE HAD LOST POWER IN THREE OF HIS PLANE'S FOUR ENGINES. IN THE ABSENCE OF HYDRAULIC POWER, HE INSTRUCTED A CREW MEMBER TO CRANK THE LANDING GEAR DOWN BY HAND. HE MANAGED TO TIP THE PLANE'S NOSE CONE DOWN ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE CRATER, AND TO STRADDLE THE CRATER WITH HIS GEAR STANCE, THUS LANDING THE PLANE WITH THE 10-PERSON CREW SAFE AND INTACT.