Assigned to 567BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. TDY 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti raid in B-24 'Hitler's Hearse' 42-40544 1-Aug-43; pilot killed by flak, landed his A/C in Izmir, Turkey despite his wounds, where he and the crew where interned. INT



Awards: DSC, DFC, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.



DSC Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps), [then Second Lieutenant] James F. Gerrits (ASN: 0-795937), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Co-Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 567th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), on 1 August 1943. While participating in an attack against heavily defended oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania, the B-24 type aircraft on which Captain Gerrits served as co-pilot was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire, the pilot killed, and several crew members seriously wounded. Despite his own painful injuries, Captain Gerrits assumed command of the damaged aircraft and maintained his position in the formation until the bombs were released on the target. Realizing that leaking fuel tanks and damaged controls precluded the safe return of his aircraft to its home station, Captain Gerrits left the formation and succeeded in manoeuvring his crippled aircraft to an emergency landing in neutral territory without further injury to members of the crew. The heroism, leadership, and exemplary devotion to duty displayed by Captain Gerrits in his determination to inflict maximum damage on a vital enemy installation reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. [This award supersedes the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain James F. Gerrits for heroism on 1 August 1943, as published in General Orders 89, Ninth Air Force, European Theater of Operations, 16 September 1943.