Greetings,

With the advent of AI accessibility, I have been going through much of my collection and seeing what new I can find about the named groupings I have. It has been a very interesting ride.

I bought this air medal a decade or so ago with a name scratched on the back. Since it wasnt officially engraved, I never gave it much through.

With a little help from AI, I believe this medal belonged to 2nd Lt. Donald Howard who flew a P51 out of the newly established Iwo Jima airstrip with the 21st fighter group. The Air Medal was likely field awarded to him in Oct 1944 and his name and date hand scratched by him to differentiate from the other pilots medals.

The pilot was killed when on March 21st a force of 300 bonsai soldiers slipped through the lines and attached the pilots while they slept. Donald was killed as he left his tent in a garage of Japanese gun and mortar fire. It is very likely this medal was in his tent during the attack.

His effects were likely provided to his widow who married another WW2 vet and relocated to the West Coast where the medal was obtained.

Your comments are welcome.

Thanks for looking.

Very interesting. Good follow up research.

Bonsai? An attack by little Japanese trees? Banzai, I think

1 hour ago, atb said:

Bonsai? An attack by little Japanese trees? Banzai, I think

Too funny!! Got to watch those little trees 🌴:-) darn the auto correct!