This is Jocco podcast number 95 with echo Charles and me jocco willing good evening echo good evening

The president of the United States of America

Authorized by active congress july 9th 1918 takes pleasure in presenting the distinguished service cross to second

lieutenant air corps

James K.

A. Conkel United States Army Air Forces for extraordinary

terrorism in connection with military operations against an armed

enemy while serving as a pilot of a p 38 fighter airplane in the

401st fighter squadron

370th fighter group 9th Air Force

In aerial combat against enemy forces on 16 September

1944

During an air mission over aiken Germany

On this date while flying as rearman in a squadron on an armed reconnaissance mission

Lieutenant Conkel noticed that his squadron was about to be surprised by a vastly superior force of enemy aircraft

Unable to summon his leader on the radio

He alone unhesitatingly pulled away from his formation and vigorously attacked the enemy immediately destroying one of his aircraft

In doing so lieutenant conkel placed himself in a position to be attacked from rear and above

When this attack materialized many hits were registered on his aircraft which caught fire burning his face neck and hands

Despite his burning plane and the gunfire from enemy planes

Lieutenant Conkel continued his attack against the vastly superior enemy force and succeeded in destroying a second enemy aircraft

Breaking off combat only when forced to parachute to safety when his left fuel tank exploded

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