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Old 12-23-2013, 11:34 AM
  #9137  
Ernie P.
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Originally Posted by AMA 74894
ah, in that case,
S/Sgt. Michael Arooth
Indeed, Sir; and you are now up. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What airman do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He seems to stand alone, at the head of at least one list.

(2) He fought in WWII.

(3) He served with the United States Eighth Air Force.

(4) Received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on a single mission.

(5) Fifteen years later, he was accorded a singular honor in a ceremony conducted at Arlington National Cemetary.

(6) He is officially credited with shooting down 17 enemy aircraft.

(7) He was a gunner.

(8) On a B-17.

(9) He shot down four enemy aircraft on a single mission.

(10) He did this despite being badly wounded early in the battle.

(11) One of his guns was knocked out, but he repaired it.

Answer: Staff Sergeant Michael Arooth

Michael Arooth

Staff Sergeant Arooth's official record as a gunner -- the greatest in Air Force history -- included shooting down at least 17 enemy planes on only 14 missions, though it was estimated he actually downed more than 20 enemy aircraft. In 1958 Arooth was selected as a pallbearer at the ceremonies of the burial of the Unknown Soldier of World War II at Arlington National Cemetery.

Distinguished Service Cross


Awarded for actions during the World War II
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 Staff Sergeant Michael Arooth, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Tail gunner in a B-17 Heavy Bomber of the 527th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 30 July 1943, against enemy ground targets in Germany. On that date, Staff Sergeant Arooth shot down three enemy airplanes and even though the airplane's oxygen line was broken, one gun was jammed, and he was severely wounded, he remained at his post, repaired his gun, resumed fire, and destroyed the fourth plane. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Arooth on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 61 (1943)

Action Date: 30-Jul-43

Service: Army Air Forces

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Company: 527th Bombardment Squadron

Regiment: 379th Bombardment Group (H)

Division: 8th Air Force

British/Commonwealth:

Frederick Barker- 13- 264- RAF- Defiant
Albert Lippett- 12- 264- RAF- Defiant
John Roberts- 12- 108- RAF- Blenheim
S. B. Johnson- 11- 264- RAF- Defiant
Frederick King- 10- 264- RAF- Defiant
Henry Jacobs- 8- 219/600- RAF- Blenheim
P. Lillie- 8- 264- RAF- Defiant
Wallace McIntosh- 8 - 207- RAF- Lancaster
L. H. Hayden- 7- 264- RAF- Defiant
C. Sutherland- 7- 207- RAF- Lancaster
?. Bradford- 6- 57- RAF-Lancaster
Peter Engbrecht- 6- 424- RCAF- Halifax(Top Turret)
Robert Turner- 6- 264- RAF- Defiant
Fred Gash- 5- 264- RAF- Defiant
?. Martain- 5- 264- RAF- Defiant
F.W. Wake- 5- 264- RAF- Defiant
J.
E.M. Williams- 5- 264- RAF- Defiant

S/SGT Michael Arooth- 17- 527 BS 379 BG 8 AF- USAAF- B-17(Tail Gunner)
S/SGT Arthur J. Benko -16- 374 BS 308 BG 14AF- USAAF- B-24(Top Turret)
S/SGT Donald Crossley-12- 95 BG 8 AF- USAAF-B-17 (Tail Gunner)
S/SGT Benjamin F Warner- 9 - 99 BG 12 AF-USAAF- B-17 (Waist Gunner)
S/SGT John B Quinlan -8- 324 BS 91 BG 8 AF/20 AF-USAAF- B-17(5),B-29(3)(Tail Gunner)(Gunner on Memphis Belle)
T/SGT Thomas Dye -8- 51 BS 351 BG 8 AF -USAAF-B-17(Ball Turret)
S/SGT John D. Foley-7+8 prob- 22ND BG 5 AF- USAAF-B-26(Top Turret)
S/SGT John A. Murphy-6- 500 BS 345 BG 5 AF- USAAF- B-25(Top Turret)(all Zero's)
T/SGT Weston (Wes) Loegering-5 -574 BS 391 BG 9 AF -USAAF-B-26 (Top Turret)
SFC Richard H Thomas-5- VPD 117- US Navy-PB4Y (B-24)(Front Turret)
ARM2 Paul Ganshirt-5- VD 3-US Navy-PB4Y(B-24)(Top Turret)



Italian Airforce:

A di B (WOFF1) Pietro Bonannini-8+2 prob- Cant Z 506B & Fiat RS14 (Top Turret)(4xSpitfire,3xBlenheim,1xHurricane)

got this from the Air Aces Home page and a couple of US Sqn history pages and various other sources