Medal of Honour – Lieutenant Colonel Leon Vance

On 5 June 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Leon Vance was the command pilot of the 489th BG but flew on the 44th BG’s B-24′ Missouri Sue’ for this his second mission in the ETO. The plane was severely damaged by flak, Vance’s right foot was shot off, but he was so intent on getting the rest of the crew off the plane, he didn’t notice it until he was in the channel. With all engines out he stayed with the plane thinking there was still one crew member on board (there was not) & he ended up ditching in the English channel. A Medal of Honour was awarded for his astonishing valour & bravery. After recuperation in England he was evacuated to the states in TWA C-54A 42-107470 on 1 July 1944 when the plane disappeared with 17 people aboard. It was never recovered.

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION For conspicuous gallantry & intrepidity above & beyond the call of duty on 5 June 1944, when he led a Heavy Bombardment Group, in an attack against defended enemy coastal positions in the vicinity of Wimereaux, France. Approaching the target, his aircraft was hit repeatedly by antiaircraft fire which seriously crippled the ship, killed the pilot, & wounded several members of the crew, including Lt. Col. Vance, whose right foot was practically severed. In spite of his injury, & with 3 engines lost to the flak, he led his formation over the target, bombing it successfully. After applying a tourniquet to his leg with the aid of the radar operator, Lt. Col. Vance, realizing that the ship was approaching a stall altitude with the 1 remaining engine failing, struggled to a  semi-upright position beside the co-pilot & took over control of the ship. Cutting the power & feathering the last engine he put the aircraft in glide sufficiently steep to maintain his airspeed. Gradually losing altitude, he at last reached the English coast, whereupon he ordered all members of the crew to bail out as he knew they would all safely make l&. But he received a message over the interphone system which led him to believe 1 of the crewmembers was unable to jump due to injuries; so he made the decision to ditch the ship in the channel,  thereby giving this man a chance for life. To add further to the danger of ditching the ship in his crippled condition, there was a 500-pound bomb hung up in the bomb bay. Unable to climb into the seat vacated by the co-pilot, since his foot, hanging on to his leg by a few tendons, had become lodged behind the co-pilot’s seat, he nevertheless made a successful ditching while lying on the floor using only aileron & elevators for control & the side window of the cockpit for visual reference. On coming to rest in the water the aircraft commenced to sink rapidly with Lt. Col. Vance pinned in the cockpit by the upper turret which had crashed in during the landing. As it was settling beneath the waves an explosion occurred which threw Lt. Col. Vance clear of the wreckage.

After clinging to a piece of floating wreckage until he could muster enough strength to inflate his life vest he began searching for the crewmember whom he believed to be aboard. Failing to find anyone he began swimming & was found approximately 50 minutes later by an Air-Sea Rescue craft. By his extraordinary flying skill & gallant leadership, despite his grave injury, Lt. Col. Vance led his formation to a successful bombing of the assigned target & returned the crew to a point where they could bail out with safety. His gallant & valorous decision to ditch the aircraft in order to give the crewmember he believed to be aboard a chance for life exemplifies the highest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Article courtesy of the U.S. Air Force