Medal of Honor: James H. Howard – World War II – Germany – January 1944

Name: James H. Howard
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Organization: U.S. Army Air Corps
Aircraft: P-51 Mustang
Mission Area: Over Oschersleben, Germany
Entered Service At: St. Louis, Missouri
Born: Canton, China

Summary of Action

On 11 January 1944, Lieutenant Colonel James H. Howard was leading a group of P-51 Mustang fighters tasked with escorting a heavy bomber formation on a deep-penetration mission over Germany. As his group rendezvoused with the bombers near the target area at Oschersleben, the formation was suddenly attacked by large numbers of German fighter aircraft.

Lieutenant Colonel Howard immediately engaged the enemy and personally destroyed a German Me-110. During the initial engagement, he became separated from his fighter group. Returning alone to the bomber stream, he discovered the bombers under sustained attack by more than 30 enemy fighters—and with no other friendly fighter protection in sight.

Faced with the option of withdrawing to reassemble his group, Lieutenant Colonel Howard instead chose to attack single-handedly. For approximately 30 minutes, he repeatedly pressed aggressive attacks against overwhelming odds, destroying three enemy aircraft and damaging or probably destroying others. As the battle continued, three of his guns malfunctioned and his fuel supply dropped to dangerously low levels.

Despite these critical disadvantages and the constant threat of being shot down, Lieutenant Colonel Howard continued to engage the enemy fighters in order to shield the bombers from further attack. His determined defense broke up enemy assaults and allowed the bomber formation to continue its mission.

By his extraordinary courage, flying skill, and complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Colonel Howard saved countless bomber crews and set a lasting example of heroism in aerial combat.

Medal of Honor Citation

HOWARD, JAMES H.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps.
Place and date: Over Oschersleben, Germany, 11 January 1944.
Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo.
Birth: Canton, China.
G.O. No.: 45, 5 June 1944.

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Oschersleben, Germany, on 11 January 1944. On that day Col. Howard was the leader of a group of P-51 aircraft providing support for a heavy bomber formation on a long-range mission deep in enemy territory. As Col. Howard’s group met the bombers in the target area the bomber force was attacked by numerous enemy fighters. Col. Howard, with his group, at once engaged the enemy and himself destroyed a German Me-110. As a result of this attack Col. Howard lost contact with his group, and at once returned to the level of the bomber formation. He then saw that the bombers were being heavily attacked by enemy airplanes and that no other friendly fighters were at hand. While Col. Howard could have waited to attempt to assemble his group before engaging the enemy, he chose instead to attack single-handedly a formation of more than 30 German airplanes. With utter disregard for his own safety he immediately pressed home determined attacks for some 30 minutes, during which time he destroyed 3 enemy airplanes and probably destroyed and damaged others. Toward the end of this engagement 3 of his guns went out of action and his fuel supply was becoming dangerously low. Despite these handicaps and the almost insuperable odds against him, Col. Howard continued his aggressive action in an attempt to protect the bombers from the numerous fighters. His skill, courage, and intrepidity on this occasion set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces.