World War II Honoree

Donald Herbert Falkingham

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

LEFT HIS JOB TO ENLIST IN MILITARY SERVICE SHORTLY AFTER THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII. SERVED AS A PILOT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN ITALY WITH THE 12TH AIR FORCE. FLEW SOME 45 COMBAT MISSIONS IN A-20 'HAVOC' AND A-26 'INVADER' LIGHT ATTACK AIRCRAFT. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS FOR HIS ACTIONS IN MAY, 1945, WHEN, AFTER COMPLETING A WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE MISSION IN NORTHERN ITALY, HE WAS DIRECTED TO ATTACK A GROUP OF ENEMY TRANSPORT VEHICLES. HE REPEATEDLY BOMBED AND STRAFED THE VEHICLES WHILE UNDER HEAVY ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE. ALSO AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.