Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (rank at time of action: Major)
Conflict/Era: World War II
Unit/Command: 356th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force
Military Service Branch: U.S. Army Air Corps
Medal of Honor Action Date: January 11, 1944
Medal of Honor Action Place: over Oschersleben, Germany
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 singlehandedly 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 three enemy airplanes and probably destroyed and damaged others. Toward the end of this engagement three 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.
Medal of Honor Recipient James H. Howard
Additional Details
Accredited to: St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri
Awarded Posthumously: No
Presentation Date & Details: June 27, 1944 London, England, presented by Lt. Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, Commander of the Air Forces in Europe
Born: April 8, 1913, Canton, China
Died: March 18, 1995, Belleair Bluffs, FL, United States
Buried: Arlington National Cemetery (MH) (34-2571), Arlington, VA
Location of Medal:
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, St. Petersburg, FL