WWII 5th AF KIA AM, received SS as Private

February 2

This KIA Air Medal is unique as the flier’s first decoration was a Silver Star for gallantry in action over Rabaul, New Britain, on October 9, 1942. He earned the Silver Star as a Private while serving with the 435th Bombardment Squadron (H), 19th Bombardment Group (H), 5th AF. The whereabouts of the Silver Star and Purple Heart are unknown. The SS was presented to him by Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney somewhere in Australia in January 1942, and more than likely unnamed as presented in the theater of operations.

He did not receive a DFC, and the AM is the second decoration he would earn for flying in combat followed by the posthumous Purple Heart. In looking at the dates for his AM citation, which overlap with earning the SS, he transferred to the 403rd Bombardment Squadron (H), 43rd Bombardment Group, 5th AF after 19th BG personnel returned to CONUS. The latter date on the AM citation is the crash date of the B-17 he was on, which is B-17F-10-BO "Taxpayer's Pride" Serial Number 41-24448.

His mother received the posthumously awarded AM on December 7, 1943, the second anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. The AM is numbered 33919.

Here's the link to the crew previously posted many years ago.

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/188732-taxpayers-pride-last-ride-air-corps-ssdfcph-kia-group/#comment-1460087