HOWARD, JAMES H.
(Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel,
U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: Over Oschersleben, Germany, 11 January 1944. Entered
service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Canton, China. G.O. No: 45, 5 June
1944.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with
the enemy near Oschersleben, Germany, on 11 January 1944. On that day Col. Howard was the
leader of a group of P51 aircraft providing support for a heavy bomber formation on a
long-range mission deep in enemy territory. As Col. Howard's group met the bombers in the
target area the bomber force was attacked by numerous enemy fighters. Col. Howard, with
his group, and at once engaged the enemy and himself destroyed a German ME. 110. As a
result of this attack Col. Howard lost contact with his group, and at once returned to the
level of the bomber formation. He then saw that the bombers were being heavily attacked by
enemy airplanes and that no other friendly fighters were at hand. While Col. Howard could
have waited to attempt to assemble his group before engaging the enemy, he chose instead
to attack single-handed a formation of more than 30 German airplanes. With utter disregard
for his own safety he immediately pressed home determined attacks for some 30 minutes,
during which time he destroyed 3 enemy airplanes and probably destroyed and damaged
others. Toward the end of this engagement 3 of his guns went out of action and his fuel
supply was becoming dangerously low. Despite these handicaps and the almost insuperable
odds against him, Col. Howard continued his aggressive action in an attempt to protect the
bombers from the numerous fighters. His skill, courage, and intrepidity on this occasion
set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces.
