42-97904 LADY JEANNETTE
NO MACR
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CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL
STORY OF THE LADY JEANNETTE
AND HER 2 MEDAL OF HONOR
RECIPIENTS: 1LT Donald J Gott and
2LT William E Metzger. According
to this website, there seems to be
some controversy on the
description of the plane crash in
the MOH citations. In any event,
Gott and Metzger certainly
deserved the medals.
STORY OF THE LADY JEANNETTE
AND HER 2 MEDAL OF HONOR
RECIPIENTS: 1LT Donald J Gott and
2LT William E Metzger. According
to this website, there seems to be
some controversy on the
description of the plane crash in
the MOH citations. In any event,
Gott and Metzger certainly
deserved the medals.
|
*METZGER, WILLIAM E., JR.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 729th Bomber Squadron
452d Bombardment Group. Place and date: Saarbrucken, Germany, 9 November 1944.
Entered service at: Lima, Ohio. Born: 9 February 1922, Lima, Ohio. G.O. No.: 38, 16 May
1945. Citation: On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken, Germany, on
9 November 1944, a B17 aircraft on which 2d Lt. Metzger was serving as copilot was
seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the aircraft's engines were damaged
beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the No. 4 engine were leaping back
as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire roared therein
which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from damaged hydraulic lines. The
interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to these serious mechanical
difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator's arm was
severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the application of a
tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent explosion of his
aircraft and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away on the target, 2d
Lt. Metzger and his pilot conferred. Something had to be done immediately to save the
life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his
unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate
medical attention forced a quick decision. 2d Lt. Metzger and his pilot decided to fly the
flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. Bombs were released
on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded along to Allied-controlled territory.
When that had been reached 2d Lt. Metzger personally informed all crewmembers to bail
out upon the suggestion of the pilot. 2d Lt. Metzger chose to remain with the pilot for the
crash landing in order to assist him in this emergency. With only 1 normally functioning
engine and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open
field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again, and
then disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 2d Lt. Metzger's loyalty to his
crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of
knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example
of valor at its highest.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 729th Bomber Squadron
452d Bombardment Group. Place and date: Saarbrucken, Germany, 9 November 1944.
Entered service at: Lima, Ohio. Born: 9 February 1922, Lima, Ohio. G.O. No.: 38, 16 May
1945. Citation: On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken, Germany, on
9 November 1944, a B17 aircraft on which 2d Lt. Metzger was serving as copilot was
seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the aircraft's engines were damaged
beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the No. 4 engine were leaping back
as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire roared therein
which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from damaged hydraulic lines. The
interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to these serious mechanical
difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator's arm was
severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the application of a
tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent explosion of his
aircraft and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away on the target, 2d
Lt. Metzger and his pilot conferred. Something had to be done immediately to save the
life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his
unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate
medical attention forced a quick decision. 2d Lt. Metzger and his pilot decided to fly the
flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. Bombs were released
on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded along to Allied-controlled territory.
When that had been reached 2d Lt. Metzger personally informed all crewmembers to bail
out upon the suggestion of the pilot. 2d Lt. Metzger chose to remain with the pilot for the
crash landing in order to assist him in this emergency. With only 1 normally functioning
engine and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open
field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again, and
then disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 2d Lt. Metzger's loyalty to his
crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of
knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example
of valor at its highest.
*GOTT, DONALD J.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 729th Bomber Squadron,
452d Bombardment Group. Place and date: Saarbrucken, Germany, 9 November 1944.
Entered service at: Arnett, Okla. Born: 3 June 1923, Arnett, Okla. G.O. No.: 38, 16 May
1945. Citation: On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken a B-17
aircraft piloted by 1st. Lt. Gott was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the
aircraft's engines were damaged beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the
No. 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were
ignited and a fire raged therein, which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from
damaged hydraulic lines. The interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to
these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio
operator's arm was severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the
application of a tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent
explosion of his aircraft, and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away
on the target, 1st. Lt. Gott and his copilot conferred. Something had to be done
immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and
the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would
not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. 1st. Lt. Gott and his
copilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash
land. Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded alone to
Allied-controlled territory. When that had been reached, 1st. Lt. Gott had the copilot
personally inform all crewmembers to bail out. The copilot chose to remain with 1st. Lt.
Gott in order to assist in landing the bomber. With only one normally functioning engine,
and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field,
and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again and then
disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 1st. Lt. Gott's loyalty to his crew,
his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly
performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at
its highest.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 729th Bomber Squadron,
452d Bombardment Group. Place and date: Saarbrucken, Germany, 9 November 1944.
Entered service at: Arnett, Okla. Born: 3 June 1923, Arnett, Okla. G.O. No.: 38, 16 May
1945. Citation: On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken a B-17
aircraft piloted by 1st. Lt. Gott was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the
aircraft's engines were damaged beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the
No. 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were
ignited and a fire raged therein, which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from
damaged hydraulic lines. The interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to
these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio
operator's arm was severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the
application of a tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent
explosion of his aircraft, and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away
on the target, 1st. Lt. Gott and his copilot conferred. Something had to be done
immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and
the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would
not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. 1st. Lt. Gott and his
copilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash
land. Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded alone to
Allied-controlled territory. When that had been reached, 1st. Lt. Gott had the copilot
personally inform all crewmembers to bail out. The copilot chose to remain with 1st. Lt.
Gott in order to assist in landing the bomber. With only one normally functioning engine,
and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field,
and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again and then
disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 1st. Lt. Gott's loyalty to his crew,
his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly
performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at
its highest.
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATIONS
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