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Maj. Willhite Awards to Be Presented WifeTwo special awards, the Distinguished Flying Cross and thei Air Medal posthumously awarded! to Major Theodore E. Willhite, formerly of Muscatine, will be presented to his widow, Mrs. Virginia L. Willhite, of Rochester, Wash., at a ceremony, to be held in the near future. Announcements of the awards, made by | Brigadier General Robert H. Dun-! lop, were forwarded to the widow and to the flier’s mother, Mrs.! Ivy Willhite, of Muscatine.Major Willhite, serving in the! United States air corps, in the Italy theater ol' operations, was killed in action in a bombing mission over France on Marcii 11. lie had been on foreign duty since November, 1942. The citations read:DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.“F o r extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. On 30 January 1944, Major Willhite was flight commander on a B-24 type aircraft on a hign altitude mission to bomb the enemy airdrome -, Italy. Just!prior to the bombing run, his plane was seriously damaged by! accurate and intense anti-aircraft fire which mortally wrounded the j pilot and stunned the co-pilot, j Although tne plane went into a; steep dive writh one engine on j fire, Major Willhite, displaying outstanding resourcefullness and courage, managed in spite of the fact that he himself had been wounded, to remove the pilot who; had slumped over the controls, * and assisted the co-pilot in regaining control of the aircraft. Ha extinguished the fire in tire engine by feathering the propeller, and with the plane once more under control and under, his instructions, the co-pilot pro-! ceeaed on his course, rejoining the formation and completing a, highly successful bombing run.1 Major Willhite gave the co-pilot j the proper course to the nearest; friendly base, and proceeded to! administer first aid to the pilot! and re-organize the crew. By hisj exceptional initiative and cool- j ness under fire, Major Willhite sj quick thinking and superior lead-j ership undoubtedly saved the lives of the entire crewr and prevented the destruction of the aircraft. The inherent courage, sound i judgment and cool efficiency of! Major Willhite has reflected great I credit upon himself and the; Armed Forces of the United States | of America.”AIR MEDAL.“For meritorious achievement while participating in five sorties against the enemy.”
Newspaper Details
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune
Muscatine, Iowa, US
Fri, Dec 08, 1944
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Anne C.
NA, 25 Jan 2024
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