World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Donald J. Gott
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Arnett, Oklahoma
Honored By
Ralph Bozorth
POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. FIRST LIEUTENANT, U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, 729TH BOMBER SQUADRON, 452ND BOMBARDMENT GROUP. PLACE AND DATE: SAARBRUCKEN, GERMANY NOVEMBER 9, 1944. ENTERED SERVICE AT ARNETT, OKLAHOMA MAY 16, 1945. CITATION: ON A BOMBING RUN UPON THE MARSHALING YARDS AT SAARBRUCKEN A B-17 AIRCRAFT PILOTED BY HIM WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE. THREE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINES WERE DAMAGED BEYOND CONTROL AND ON FIRE; DANGEROUS FLAMES FROM THE NUMBER 4 ENGINE WERE LEAPING BACK AS FAR AS THE TAIL ASSEMBLY. FLARES IN THE COCKPIT WERE IGNITED AND A FIRE RAGED THEREIN, WHICH WAS FURTHER INCREASED BY FREE-FLOWING FLUID FROM DAMAGED HYDRAULIC LINES. THE INTER PHONE SYSTEM WAS RENDERED USELESS. IN ADDITION TO THESE SERIOUS MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES THE ENGINEER WAS WOUNDED IN THE LEG AND THE RADIO OPERATOR'S ARM WAS SEVERED BELOW THE ELBOW. SUFFERING FROM INTENSE PAIN, DESPITE THE APPLICATION OF A TOURNIQUET, THE RADIO OPERATOR FELL UNCONSCIOUS. FACED WITH THE IMMINENT EXPLOSION OF HIS AIRCRAFT AND DEATH TO HIS ENTIRE CREW, MERE SECONDS BEFORE BOMBS AWAY ON THE TARGET. HE AND HIS COPILOT DECIDED TO FLY THE FLAMING AIRCRAFT TO FRIENDLY TERRITORY AND THEN ATTEMPT TO CRASH LAND. BOMBS WERE RELEASED ON THE TARGET AND THE CRIPPLED AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED ALONE TO ALLIED-CONTROLLED TERRITORY. WHEN THAT HAD BEEN REACHED, HE HAD THE COPILOT PERSONALLY INFORM ALL CREW MEMBERS TO BAIL OUT. THE COPILOT CHOSE TO REMAIN WITH HIM IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN LANDING THE BOMBER. WITH ONLY ONE NORMALLY FUNCTIONING ENGINE AND WITH THE DANGER OF EXPLOSION MUCH GREATER, THE AIRCRAFT BANKED INTO AN OPEN FIELD AND WHEN IT WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 100 FEET IT EXPLODED, CRASHED, EXPLODED AGAIN AND THEN DISINTEGRATED. ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS WERE INSTANTLY KILLED. HIS LOYALTY TO HIS CREW, HIS DETERMINATION TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK SET FORTH TO HIM AND HIS DEED OF KNOWINGLY PERFORM WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN HIS LAST SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY WAS AN EXAMPLE OF VALOR AT ITS HIGHEST.