World War II Honoree

Floyd J. Pell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ogden, Utah

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: MAJOR. HIS MILITARY CAREER BEGAN WHEN HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY WEST POINT WITH THE CLASS OF 1937 AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN OCTOBER OF THE SAME YEAR. GRADUATED FROM ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING AT KELLY FIELD, TEXAS AS A FIGHTER PILOT WITH THE CLASS OF 38-C. HE WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO NICHOLS FIELD AS A P-40 ‘WARHAWK’ FIGHTER PILOT ON THE ISLAND OF LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE 33RD PURSUIT SQUADRON ‘PROVISIONAL’, U.S. 5TH AIR FORCE, V-FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR COMMAND. WHEN THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES INVADED THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, HIS UNIT WAS DEPLOYED TO AMBERLEY ROYAL ARMY AIRFIELD, AUSTRALIA, FLYING COMBAT MISSIONS OUT OF DARWIN AIRFIELD. AT 07:30 HOURS ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1942, HE WAS SHOT DOWN AND KILLED SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF AFTER ENCOUNTERING SEVERAL JAPANESE FIGHTERS. HE WAS INTERRED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY SEPTEMBER 30, 1948, WITH INTERMENT IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY NATIONAL CEMETERY, WEST POINT, NEW YORK. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: HE WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY, THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS FOR EXTREME GALLANTRY AND RISK OF LIFE IN ACTUAL COMBAT WITH AN ARMED ENEMY FORCE. THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.