Eric Queen Posted March 22, 2015 Share #1 Posted March 22, 2015 This is a pretty cool original (not press) photo of C.F.Schilt with his plane and crew. Awarded the MOH in 1928 for action in Nicaragua. In November 1927, Schilt was ordered to Managua, Nicaragua, where he joined Observation Squadron 7-M. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism from 6 to January 8, 1928, at Quilali, Nicaragua, where two Marine patrols were ambushed and cut off by Sandino forces. Then a lieutenant, he voluntarily risked his life to make ten flights into the besieged town, evacuating 18 casualties and carrying in a replacement commander and badly needed medical supplies. To make a landing strip on the village's rough, rolling, main street, the Marines on the ground had to burn and level part of the town, and since his O2U Corsairbiplane had no brakes they had to stop it by dragging from its wings as soon as it touched down. Hostile fire on landings and take-offs, plus low-hanging clouds, mountains and tricky air currents, added to the difficulty of the flights, which the citation describes as feats of "almost superhuman skill combined with personal courage of the highest order." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted March 22, 2015 Close up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick_usmc Posted March 22, 2015 Share #3 Posted March 22, 2015 Is this his racing plane? Awesome photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted March 22, 2015 Share #4 Posted March 22, 2015 Very clean image Eric....another great addition to your collection! BTW saw at the Baltimore show yesterday a nice Marine Avaition album for Haiti early 1920's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudgy (V) Posted March 22, 2015 Share #5 Posted March 22, 2015 Wow, what a hero!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovmilinsig Posted March 25, 2015 Share #6 Posted March 25, 2015 Interesting story / photos. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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