Awards (Medals) & Decorations

When a medal or decoration was awarded, it was conferred in writing by a higher headquarters — 8th AAF, VIII Bomber Command or 1st Bomb Division — in a General Order naming each man and his serial number. These orders often carry a narrative describing the actions that led to the award. Collected here are General Orders naming 306th personnel.

Each month, as the 306th Group Diary was completed, a list of the awards and decorations presented that month was attached to the diary as part of the record. These are those lists: one name and award per line.

The two most commonly awarded were the Air Medal (AM), given for completion of six combat missions, and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), awarded for a particularly distinguished action in aerial combat. Earlier in the war the DFC was also awarded on completion of a man’s required number of missions, whether that was 25, 30 or 35. The Purple Heart (PH) was awarded to any man wounded or killed in combat.

A second award of the same medal was marked by an Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) rather than a second medal, so a man who had completed 18 combat missions would hold an Air Medal with two OLCs.

Tracking how many missions a man had flown, and when he became due a particular medal, was a considerable administrative job for the group staff. The officer “tally” forms that recorded combat missions and medals are included here for officers with surnames from Knight through McCallum, along with the 26 June 1944 report submitting officers to 1st Bomb Division for award of various medals.

Also included, and compiled long after the war rather than during it, is Russell Strong’s research listing of 306th men who received medals for bravery — the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star and Soldier’s Medal — and for meritorious service, the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.