Evening star., 1941-12-24
Spectacular Pacific Flight
Wins Flying Cross for rs
Arlington Youth
And Copt. Kelly
Are Honored


Army air forces-including an Ar
lington youth recently wounded in
the Philippines-have been awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross for
successful completion of a remark
able flight which brought heavy
aerial reinforcements to the Philip
pine Islands.
The Arlington youth who was re-
cipient of the air forces highest
award was Sergt. william S. Fought,
20, of 5510 Lee highway. Among the
others who participated in the night
was Capt. Colin P. Kelly, jr.. who
later died after sinking a Japanese
battleship in the first days OF the
war, who receives the award for past
bravery.
In the course Of the flight, a squad
ron of heavy bombardment planes
proceeded from Hawaii to the Phil
ippines-following a Zig course
over uncharted areas so as to avoid
Jap controls which we're stationed
along the way.
The flight was led by Maj. Emmett
ODonnell, jr.. Of Brooklyn. N, Y,
and he-like the other members OF
the flight-was cited to President
Roosevelt for "heroism and extraor-
dinary achievement"
Flight Of 1900 Miles.
The feet was accomplished in Sep
tember, long before the japanese
launched their attack. At that time,
the Army was desperately anxious
to reinforce our air detachments in
the Philippines without the Japs
knowing about or intercepting the
reinforcements.
Therefore. it was decided to dis
patch a flight of four -engined bomb
ers over a circuitous route so that
the planes would not be spotted by
the numerous Jap patrols.
The crow-flight distance from
Hawaii to the Philippines is rough
ly 1000 miles. Instead of taking this
route. the planes went deep into the
South Pacific over virtually un-
known seas. They covered a dis
tance of 1900 miles during eight
days.
The War Department described
the undertaking as one OF the
"greatest" flights ever known.
Included in the fight were three
ma jors, three captains. % lieuten-
ants. 80 sergeants and IA other en-
listed men.
1t was said in each citation that:
~
crew, the flight from Honolulu 10
Fort Stotsenburg was completed
without accident or injury to anv OF
the crew or passengers. The flight
began September S, 194l, and was
completed September II, l94l.
Stopped Only to RefueL
This dificult trip was completed
in excellent time and without mis-
hap. ''' The speed with which each
plane of this flight was flown demon
strated superior leadership and abll-
ity on the part of its commander.
Further, 1t brought credit to the
United States and its air forces
The only stops made on the 1900
lllkIlb NCiC lOi iCAdohh6 oiAo
these mostly at obscure points.
The father Of Sergt. Fought, the
local youth who was decorated, is a
veteran of campaigning in the Phil
ippines. himself. He was a sergeant
in the American forces which were
there from 1900 to 1902.
II know all of the territory where
my son is now" Mr.. Fought said.
II have secuted the entire north
end of Luzon Island and know the
scenes OF battle around Aparri,
Laoag, Givon and San Fernando"
Mr.. Fought did not know OF his
sons award until called by The Star.
The father said he was notified
yesterday that his son was seriously
wounded in action on December 8.
Cadet Corps Officer.
Sergt. Fought was graduated from
Washington-Lee High School in Ar
lington where he had been a first
lieutenant in the high school cadet
corps. He enlisted in the Army Air
Corps in May, 1899, and studied radio
at Honolulu where he became first