Sept 6,'44 flying P-47N on a Dive-Bombing mission over Rotterdam aircraft was hit by 88mm flak. Rear row of Radials on the aircraft engline were heavily damaged but plane was flyable. The problem was I was bleeding heavily from four different wounds. I was able to make it back across the English channel but landed on the English coast as an Emergency field. I spent the next six weeks in the hospital recovering from my wounds. When I was released from the hospital and returned to duty my squadron, 350th had switched over to P-51D Mustangs. I was assigned aircraft LH-Z. I named it the 'Jayhawk Jalopy'. On Nov 18, '44 while strafing an airfield at Lechfield Germany in my Mustang, I hit one of the anti-strafing cables that was suspended 40 feet above the ground. The cable damaged the prop and sliced a hole through the right side fuselage and cockpit. I received a wound to the right arm. I was able to land the aircraft at Antwerp, Belgium and was flown back to Raydon in another plane. After being treated at the Hosp I was released. The Doctor left the small piece of steel cable in my arm. The P-51 was given a new prop then flown back to Raydon. I was flying it again the next week. When Germany surrendered I took a voluntary six month extension with the occupations forces. I was assigned with my P-51 D 'Jawhawk Jalopy' to Kaufburen, Ger. in the Bavarian alps.



Air Medal with 4/Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart w 1/Oak Leaf Cluster