US Air Force
Lighter
344th Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomb Wing
The 344th Bomb Squadron was equipped with the B-29 Superfortress. Based in Japan, it flew strategic mission over North Korea from 1950 until the armistice in 1953.
Lieutentant Colonel
Louis Curdes
(Fort Wayne)
LTC Curdes was a career officer, joing the Army Air Force in 1942, retiring in 1963. During WWII, Curdes was one of a very small handful of fighter pilots who had shot down an aircraft from each of the major Axis powers.
Curdes demonstrated his skill and valor during his first 2 weeks as a fighter pilot in World War II, when he shot down a total of five German planes to become a flying ace. Several months later, when his plane was damaged in fighting, he was forced down in Italy and spent months in war prisons, until his eventual escape and walk to freedom.
Late in the war, Louis Curdes saw action in the South Pacific. He shot down aircraft from Japan and Italy, as well as Germany.
His most unusual "kill" however was the intentional downing of an American aircraft.
Upon discharge, he joined the local Air National Guard unit at Baer Field in Fort Wayne, and remained with them until 1948. He then returned to active duty serving in various assignments and participating in the Berlin Airlift. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel on November 1, 1963.
Air Medal Awarded to
Sergeant Royal A. Veatch
(Auburn)
General Order Number 190, 29 April 1951
Sergeant Royal A. Veatch, 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (M), is officially credited with the destruction of one (1) enemy MIG-15 type aircraft in aerial combat near Sinuiju, North Korea at 10101 on 12 April 1951. Sergeant Veatch was right gunner in a B-29 flying in formation at 17,000 feet. Enemy aircraft was passing underneath B-29 at 3 O’clock low and when it was 500 yards away, Sergeant Veatch opened fire tracking it with short bursts. Sergeant Veatch then fired one long burst and a flash of fire and smoke was observed to come from the enemy aircraft. When last seen enemy aircraft was spinning out of control and on fire.
