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^[[Original scanned September 27, 2002. Reduced print – for full-sized print, see Davis Box 163, Folder 1]] Page 2 JOURNAL AND GUIDE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1943 26 Pilots Decorated (Continued from page 1) on Davis' departure. AWARDS FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT The awards of the medal to these twenty-six Negro eagles was for "meritorious achievement while participating in ten (or more) sorties against the enemy." The formal announcement of the honoring of the fliers came from the Twelfth Air Support Command by Major General Edwin House, commanding general, and the awards were made in the name of Supreme Commander Eisenhower. The roll of honor is as follows: First Lt. JAMES T. WILEY, 705 Woods Run avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. First Lt. GRAHAM SMITH, Ahoskie, North Carolina. First Lt. LOUIS R. PURNELL, West Weaver street, Germantown, Pennsylvania. First Lt. LEE RAYFORD, Ardwick, Maryland (and Washington, District of Columbia). Captain CHARLES B. HALL, 1034 East Kendrick street, Brazil, Indiana. First Lt. WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. First Lt. HERBERT V. CLARK, 310 East Sixty-seventh street, Cleveland, Ohio. First Lt. CLARENCE C. JAMISON, 2232 East Eighty-fifth street, Cleveland, Ohio. First Lt. CHARLES W. DRYDEN, 800 Horne street, the Bronx, New York City. First Lt. WALTER L. LAWSON, Newtown, Virginia. First Lt. JAMES B. KNIGHTEN, 1130 Mount Greenwood street, Tulsa, Oklahoma. First Lt. SIDNEY P. BROOKS, 3709 East 142nd Street, Cleveland, Ohio. First Lt. WILLIE H. FULLER, Tarboro, North Carolina. First Lt. ALLEN G. LANE, 203 Cherry street, Demopolis, Alabama. Second Lt. SPANN WATSON, 132 J street, Hackensack, New Jersey. First Lt. SAMUEL R. BRUCE, 319 Twelfth street, Seattle, Washington. Captain LEMUEL R. CUSTIS, 67 Pliney street, Hartford, Connecticut. Lt. Colonel BENJAMIN O. DAVIS JR., Washington, District of Columbia. Second Lt. JOHN W. ROGERS, 1552 Linn street, Cincinnati, Ohio. First Lt. WILLIE ASHLEY JR., 212 West Bartlett street, Sumter, South Carolina. First Lt. GEORGE R. BOLLING, 24 Cummings avenue, Phoebus, Virginia. Captain GEORGE S. ROBERTS, 317 Quarry avenue, Fairmont, West Virginia. First Lt. ERWIN B. LAWRENCE, 2068 East Ninetieth street, Cleveland, Ohio. First Lt. HERBERT E. CARTER, Amory, Mississippi. First Lt. PAUL G. MITCHELL, 903 Howard road, S.E., Washington, D.C. (killed in action since August 13). Second Lt. LEON C. ROBERTS, Murphy and McGee streets, Pritchard, Ala., recommended for Air Medal award but believed omitted from list announced here through a stenographic error. CUSTIS NEW OPERATIONS OFFICER Captain Lemuel R. Custis has been named the new operations officer, the post previously filled by Captain Roberts. The other posts in the squadron remain unchanged, with First Lt. Henry M. Letcher of Washington, D. C. as squadron executive officer; Lt. Bernard Proctor, of Philadelphia, as squadron adjutant, and First Lt. [[?]] Johnson Jr., of Washington, one-time Naval [[?]] [[?squadron's]] assistant intelligence officer. Appoints of Lts. Letcher, Proctor and Johnson were made on August 22, as previously reported in the Guide. Lt. Letcher is the first in the squadron to be executive officer, a position created by a new table or organization effective on July 1 throughout the Air Forces. He continues his duties as transportation and special services officer for the time being, and as executive officer is second in command and directs and coordinates the work of all ground units, commanding the ground echelon in the absence of the commander. ORDERS COME, MOVES PAST Knowledge of the new assignment for Lt. Colonel Davis came suddenly and dramatically to members of the squadron. Complying with instructions phoned Wednesday night, September 1, Lt. Col. Davis flew his own Warhawk plane to North African Air Force headquarters in Sicily early Thursday morning, returning before noon to his unit's base with his orders. He was packed and ready to leave at one p.m. at the same time this correspondent was to leave on an assignment to England, and who by pure coincidence had planned is own departure on that day more than a week previously. SAYS MODEST FAREWELL TO SQUADRON Lt. Colonel Davis told the assembled squadron and its large complement of ground force officers and men of his new assignment, modestly disclaiming credit for its success during a review of its colorful history. He said: "Over here we have come through a great transition. We are now seasoned veterans. No question about it. I like to feel that I've been part of that transition, but I do not claim the credit for it. It has been a matter of teamwork, and if credit is due anywhere it is to us all collectively. "We all should feel proud to have participated in this adventure. I do. It has been a great honor to have commanded such a unit." The officers and men heartily applauded their department "Old Man," as he is affectionately known. THANKS HIS ABLE CREW CHIEF Lt. Colonel Davis then called forward his crew chief, Sergeant Vernon A. Watson, shaking his hand and thanking him for keeping his fighter-bomber plane in condition throughout its combat. The tall, soldierly West Pointer and this correspondent were then driven to the airfield, where the transport plane awaited them, by Lt. Benote H. Wimp of Chicago, squadron supply officer, who was the last to bid farewell and godspeed to the pair. ^[[Davis B005 F011 2sh2of2]]
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Only article relating to B.O. Davis transcribed
