Pucket joined the Army from Boulder, Colorado in 1942,[1] and by July 9, 1944, was a first lieutenant piloting bombers with the 98th Bombardment Group. During a raid that day over Ploieşti, Romania, his airplane was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire. He ordered his crew to abandon the craft, but three men were too frightened to parachute out. Pucket voluntarily stayed behind with the men and tried unsuccessfully to regain control of the plane. The aircraft crashed into a mountainside, killing all on board. Pucket was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on June 23, 1945.[2]
First Lieutenant Pucket's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
He took part in a highly effective attack against vital oil installation in Ploesti, Rumania, on 9 July 1944. Just after "bombs away," the plane received heavy and direct hits from antiaircraft fire. One crewmember was instantly killed and 6 others severely wounded. The airplane was badly damaged, 2 were knocked out, the control cables cut, the oxygen system on fire, and the bomb bay flooded with gas and hydraulic fluid. Regaining control of his crippled plane, 1st Lt. Pucket turned its direction over to the copilot. He calmed the crew, administered first aid, and surveyed the damage. Finding the bomb bay doors jammed, he used the hand crank to open them to allow the gas to escape. He jettisoned all guns and equipment but the plane continued to lose altitude rapidly. Realizing that it would be impossible to reach friendly territory he ordered the crew to abandon ship. Three of the crew, uncontrollable from fright or shock, would not leave. 1st Lt. Pucket urged the others to jump. Ignoring their entreaties to follow, he refused to abandon the 3 hysterical men and was last seen fighting to regain control of the plane. A few moments later the flaming bomber crashed on a mountainside. 1st Lt. Pucket, unhesitatingly and with supreme sacrifice, gave his life in his courageous attempt to save the lives of 3 others.[2]
donald, pucket, donald, dale, pucket, december, 1915, july, 1944, united, states, army, forces, officer, recipient, united, states, military, highest, decoration, medal, honor, actions, world, donald, dale, pucketborn, 1915, december, 1915longmont, colorado, u. Donald Dale Pucket December 15 1915 July 9 1944 was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military s highest decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II Donald Dale PucketBorn 1915 12 15 December 15 1915Longmont Colorado USDiedJuly 9 1944 1944 07 09 aged 28 near Ploiesti RomaniaPlace of burialJefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Saint Louis MissouriAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States Army Air ForcesYears of service1942 1944RankFirst LieutenantUnit343rd Bombardment Squadron 98th Bombardment GroupBattles warsWorld War IIAwardsMedal of HonorDistinguished Flying CrossAir Medal 3 Purple Heart Contents 1 Biography 2 Awards and decorations 2 1 Medal of Honor citation 3 See also 4 ReferencesBiography editPucket joined the Army from Boulder Colorado in 1942 1 and by July 9 1944 was a first lieutenant piloting bombers with the 98th Bombardment Group During a raid that day over Ploiesti Romania his airplane was badly damaged by anti aircraft fire He ordered his crew to abandon the craft but three men were too frightened to parachute out Pucket voluntarily stayed behind with the men and tried unsuccessfully to regain control of the plane The aircraft crashed into a mountainside killing all on board Pucket was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a year later on June 23 1945 2 Aged 28 at his death Pucket was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Saint Louis Missouri Awards and decorations editIn addition to the Medal of Honor Pucket also received the Distinguished Flying Cross three Air Medals and the Purple Heart 3 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Army Air Forces Pilot Badge Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Air Medalwith two bronze oak leaf clusters American Campaign Medal European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medalwith silver campaign star World War II Victory Medal nbsp Army Presidential Unit Citation Medal of Honor citation edit First Lieutenant Pucket s official Medal of Honor citation reads He took part in a highly effective attack against vital oil installation in Ploesti Rumania on 9 July 1944 Just after bombs away the plane received heavy and direct hits from antiaircraft fire One crewmember was instantly killed and 6 others severely wounded The airplane was badly damaged 2 were knocked out the control cables cut the oxygen system on fire and the bomb bay flooded with gas and hydraulic fluid Regaining control of his crippled plane 1st Lt Pucket turned its direction over to the copilot He calmed the crew administered first aid and surveyed the damage Finding the bomb bay doors jammed he used the hand crank to open them to allow the gas to escape He jettisoned all guns and equipment but the plane continued to lose altitude rapidly Realizing that it would be impossible to reach friendly territory he ordered the crew to abandon ship Three of the crew uncontrollable from fright or shock would not leave 1st Lt Pucket urged the others to jump Ignoring their entreaties to follow he refused to abandon the 3 hysterical men and was last seen fighting to regain control of the plane A few moments later the flaming bomber crashed on a mountainside 1st Lt Pucket unhesitatingly and with supreme sacrifice gave his life in his courageous attempt to save the lives of 3 others 2 See also edit nbsp Biography portal List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War IIReferences edit Service Profile a b Medal of Honor recipients World War II M S Medal of Honor citations United States Army Center of Military History August 3 2009 Archived from the original on April 30 2008 Retrieved September 13 2010 Tillman Barrett 2002 Above and Beyond The Aviation Medals of Honor Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Press pp 111 4 ISBN 1 58834 056 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Donald D Pucket amp oldid 1205752618, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
