Only the Good die young*

After Vietnam, the DOD did a study which showed that if a fighter pilot made it through the first 10 combat missions, his (there were no "her"s at the time) chances of surviving his tour were exponentially better.  As an aside, the chance of not surviving went back up in his last 10 missions.

In any case, the DOD decided to build a realistic exercise that, as closely as possible, would simulate actual combat.  This exercise was known as Red Flag and is still going on, typically flown at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas.  PACAF also has its own version, Cope Thunder, which was originally flown out of Clark AB in the Philippines .  However, Mother Nature didn't like all the sonic booms, so she pushed the button on Mount Pinatubo.  Cope Thunder has been conducted in Alaska ever since.

The exercise(s) are multi-service, multi-national, in nature with virtually any aircraft participating that could conceivably be used in combat.

All designed to get the personnel experience to improve their odds of making it past the first 10 missions.

The above came to me as I was researching the subject of today's post.

Lt Femoyer's name is the last one on the left column.

Lt Robert E. Femoyer, was born in Huntington VA in 1921 and attended Virginia Tech where he joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps.

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Called to active duty in 1943, he began Pilot training in Jackson, Mississippi, but washed out.  Reclassified as a navigator, he completed that training in June of '44 and arrived in the European Theater of Operations in September of that year. He was assigned to the 771 711 (Thanks RHT447, typo) Bomb Squadron in the 447th Bomb Group,  and began flying missions immediately thereafter.  (Sarge, I know you're going to visit this site, which has the Group's pictorial history)

It's November 2, 1944, Lt Femoyer is on his 5th mission and the target is Merseberg, Germany.

He was flying in a B-17 named Lucky Stehly Boy.

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As they are approaching the target, the bomber was hit by 3 AAA rounds (HISSSSS!) and severely damaged, losing two engines.  Not able to maintain formation, they lose altitude, jettison their ordnance and turn around for home.

Unfortunately, Lt Femoyer, the navigator, has been severely injured in his lower back and legs and is bleeding profusely.

However, he knows that alone and at lower altitude, the bomber will need to avoid all AAA sites on the return as it is unlikely to survive another hit. So he refuses morphine for the pain.  Asking to be propped up so he can read his charts, he navigates the bomber for 2 1/2 hours avoiding Flak Traps along the way.

Only when the bomber is back over the English Channel does he accept the pain killers.

Damage to the bomber was such that it had to be landed gear up upon return to base.

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Lt Femoyer was rushed to the hospital for treatment, but had lost too much blood, and died within the hour.

He was 23 years and 3 days old, on his 5th mission.  They didn't have anything like Red Flag back then.  They just had Real War.

He is buried in Bean's neck of the woods, in Jacksonville, Fl.

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Virginia Tech named a building after him.

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There are a couple of additional, interesting pieces of information about Lt Femoyer.  First he's one of only 9 Eagle Scouts that have received the Medal of Honor. (Col Leo Thorsness and Lt Jay Zeamer are the other two Air Force Recipients.)

Correction: Tuna pointed out that Wikipedia contradicts itself and that there are actually 11 Medal of Honor Recipients who were Eagle Scouts. Still only 3 Air Force Recipients/Eagle Scouts.

Second, he's the only  Navigator to receive the Medal of Honor.

Lt Femoyer's Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Merseburg, Germany, on 2 November 1944.

While on a mission, the bomber, of which 2d Lt. Femoyer was the navigator, was struck by 3 enemy antiaircraft shells. The plane suffered serious damage and 2d Lt. Femoyer was severely wounded in the side and back by shell fragments which penetrated his body.

In spite of extreme pain and great loss of blood he refused an offered injection of morphine. He was determined to keep his mental faculties clear in order that he might direct his plane out of danger and so save his comrades.

Not being able to arise from the floor, he asked to be propped up in order to enable him to see his charts and instruments. He successfully directed the navigation of his lone bomber for 2 1/2 hours so well it avoided enemy flak and returned to the field without further damage.

Only when the plane had arrived in the safe area over the English Channel did he feel that he had accomplished his objective; then, and only then, he permitted an injection of a sedative. He died shortly after being removed from the plane.

The heroism and self-sacrifice of 2d Lt. Femoyer are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

Rest in Peace, Warrior! 

* A little light music