OK, like most Medal of Honor recipients (regardless of Service) the actions performed are well "above and beyond the call of duty". Major Jerstad is no different. However, I found this a bit out of the ordinary.
He enlisted in July 1941, was commissioned in February 1942 serving with 2 Bomb Groups in Louisiana, for training I bet. Deployed to Europe in October of 1942, so...15 months from enlistment to Combat as a Major. Time sure was tough back then.
In any case in August 1943, the staff officers in London, who didn't have to fly missions, decided that the oil production facilities around Ploesti, Romania. This mission was titled "Operation Tidal Wave".
Typical staff officer romantic name.
Anyhow, on August 1st, 1943, 179 B-24 Liberators took off and flew an 18 hour mission, flying 2400 miles round trip.
As they approached the target, Major Jerstad's B-24 was hit by AAA and caught on fire. The plane was severely damaged and there was a farmer's field within view that would have handled an emergency landing. Major Jerstad elected to continue leading the formation, releasing the bombs on the target. Shortly thereafter, the flames in the aircraft became too intense and it crashed into the target area.
7 years later, his remains were located and he was buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery Liège in Belgium along with 5328 other Americans
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In the end, on this mission alone there were 5 Medal of Honor recipients, 3 of which were posthumous including Major Jerstad.
Citation for the Award of the Medal of Honor to Major John Jerstad
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. On 1 August 1943, he served as pilot of the lead aircraft in his group in a daring low-level attack against enemy oil refineries and installations at Ploesti, Rumania. Although he had completed more than his share of missions and was no longer connected with this group, so high was his conception of duty that he volunteered to lead the formation in the correct belief that his participation would contribute materially to the success of this attack. Maj. Jerstad led the formation into attack with full realization of the extreme hazards involved and despite withering fire from heavy and light anitaircraft guns. Three miles from the target his airplane was hit, badly damaged, and set on fire. Ignoring the fact that he was flying over a field suitable for a forced landing, he kept on the course. After the bombs of his aircraft were released on the target, the fire in his ship became so intense as to make further progress impossible and he crashed into the target area. By his voluntary acceptance of a mission he knew was extremely hazardous and his assumption of an intrepid course of action at the risk of life over and above the call of duty, Maj. Jerstad set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed
Rest in Peace, Hero!
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L._Jerstad
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-24_Liberator
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardennes_American_Cemetery_and_Memorial
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