World War II Honoree

Claude B. Phillips

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Mililani, Hawaii

Honored By

Mrs. Sylvia M. Phillips

Relationship

Wife

STAFF SERGEANT AND PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR. MANNED A MACHINE GUN TO DOWN ONE OF THE JAPANESE ATTACKING PLANES AT HICKAM FIELD. AWARDED THE SILVER STAR, JULY 1942 AND PROMOTED TO TECHNICAL SERGEANT. PART OF A VOLUNTEER B-17 CREW THAT SUCCESSFULLY PHOTOGRAPHED, IN DETAIL, JAPANESE MILITARY POSITIONS AT WAKE ISLAND. FOUGHT OFF AND SHOT DOWN SEVERAL ENEMY FIGHTERS OVER THE TARGET. TWO PREVIOUS CREWS HAD NOT RETURNED FROM THIS MISSION. FOR THIS INTELLIGENCE MISSION, CREW WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. FOR ACTIONS AS A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBARDIER AND NAVIGATOR IN THE GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN, THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA AND 82 OTHER SOUTH PACIFIC COMBAT MISSIONS, AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, THE AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND OTHER CITATIONS. RETIRED AT THE RANK OF MAJOR AFTER 27 YEARS OF SERVICE.