For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 25-26 May 1945 on an incendiary bombing mission against
the urban and industrial area of Tokyo, Japan from a base in the Marianas Islands.
These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft acting as pathfinder, with the task of lighting up the target area
for the main force of planes which was to follow. Although they were caught and held in a cone of searchlights all the way in on
the approach and over the objective, and though they sustained hits from intense anti-aircraft fire, making their plane easy prey
for attacking fighters, this crew dropped their bombs accurately, successfully locating and lighting the target area.
By vigorous and successful evasive action, they withdrew for the return to home base.
Although suffering extensive battle damage, including several controls shot out, these veterans of more than twenty-one combat
missions successfully performed their assigned mission with coolness, courage and skill. They contributed materially to the
accomplishment of a severe blow against the enemy, thereby reflecting great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.
First Lieutenant LEROY GOLDFINGER as Bombardier
First Lieutenant JOHN J. WRIGHT JR as Navigator
Master Sergeant LEROY E. FRISCH (then Technical Sergeant) as Flight Engineer
Technical Sergeant CARROL K. IVERSON as Central Fire Control Gunner
Staff Sergeant WILLIAM KOEHLER as Radio Operator
Staff Sergeant JAMES I. WHERRY, JR as Radar Operator
Staff Sergeant THADDEUS F. ZYCH (then Sergeant) as Right Blister Gunner
Staff Sergeant RAYMOND ALGUESEVA (then Sergeant) as Left Blister Gunner
Staff Sergeant MEREDITH L. WILLIAMS (then Sergeant) as Tail Gunner
[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, "Anonymous IV")]
A separate DFC Citation was prepared for Captain RICHARD L. SHARP, Aircraft Commander of the above aircraft.
