World War II Honoree

Andrew W. Essman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Newark, New Jersey

Honored By

Randolph Wells

HE ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 18 SEPTEMBER 1942 AND SEPARATED ON 8 JANUARY 1946. HE WAS THE DEDICATED CREW CHIEF OF AIRCRAFT B-26B-55-MA 42-96191/9FN NICKNAMED 'THE MILK RUN SPECIAL'. HE SERVED WITH THE 597TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 397TH BOMB GROUP 'THE BRIDGE BUSTERS'. HE SERVED OVERSEAS FROM 7 MARCH 1944 TO 17 DECEMBER 1945. FROM 20 APRIL 1944 TO 16 AUGUST 1944, HIS AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED 50 COMBAT MISSIONS OR MORE WITHOUT ABORTING DUE TO MECHANICAL REASONS. FOR THIS, HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL (GO 26 HQ IV BD (M) 5 NOVEMBER 44). HE SERVED IN THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS: NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES-ALSACE, RHINELAND, CENTRAL EUROPE AND AIR OFFENSIVE EUROPE. HE WAS ALSO AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MEDAL WITH SIX CAMPAIGN STARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.