July 09, 1944

During an effective attack against vital oil installations in Ploesti, Romania, 1st Lt. Donald D. Pucket’s Consolidated B-24 Liberator receives direct hits from anti aircraft fire just after “bombs away.” One crew member is instantly killed, six others are severely wounded, and the aircraft is badly damaged. After regaining control of the airplane and turning it over to his copilot, Pucket calms the crew, administers first aid, surveys the damage, and jettisons all guns and equipment but the airplane continues to lose altitude. He orders the crew to bail out, but three members are too badly wounded. After the other crew members jump, he refuses to abandon his airplane and is last seen fighting to regain control before crashing on a mountainside. Pucket is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.