The Nome nugget., 1942-09-14

anti-arCraft fire to blast Japanese invasion forces the Outer Aleutans, citations of VaOr were made by Maj. Gen Simon B. Buckner, commander of the Alas kan Defense Command Included in the citations at the direction of the President postumous awards to brave airmen who gave their lives to bomb enemy ships and shore concentrations and awards to several others who narrowly escaped death.
 Posthumous HOnOrs
 Capt. George w. Thoronbrough of Boise Idaho awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
 Capt. Thomas F. Mansfield of Brookline Mass. and Second Lieut. John Jarvis Cape Jr whose father lives at Cambridge Mass. both awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
 Captain Thorongrough was the first pilot of a plane in torpedo attack an enemy fleet, Flying through fog and clouds he became separated from other planes in his formation but continued his attack alone diving through heavy attack from several enemy ships.
 Hit Jap Carrier
 He released his torpedo, scoring direct hit Jap aircraft carrier then sped back his base loaded bombs and roared back to the scene of contact to continue single handed his attack against the enemy despite fog which swiftly closing in.
 Editors note: Data of the above engagement was not included in the dispatch from Anchorage It was presumed that the hit the Jap carrier had been ported in navy department communiques previously released in Washington)
 Captain Mansfield unable to accompany flight of planes a bombing mission because of mechanical trouble which temporarily kept his bomber grounded
 Took Off Alone
 But when repairs were completed he took off alone He contacted enemy concentrations at distance of approximately half mile and from an altitude of 250 dove into heavy ant-aircraft fire to accomplish his mission
 Lieutenant Cape, poting of four fighter planes starting routine patrol took off first and encounter ed four Jap dive bombers and four enemy fighters screening the dive bombers.
 Attempting to protect his mates while they took off Lieutenant Cape engaged enemy fighter trying to strae the planes still the ground and shot it down
 Just Miss Death
 second enemy fighter, however, got the tail of Lieutenant Capes plane and shot him down. His heroism of taking overwhelming odds enabl- ed his fellow pilots to take off safely.
 In addition to the three posthumous awards to the three gallant airmn who gave their lives in the battle o the AeuanS; the following heroes who narrowly capped death were honored:
 Capt. Ira F. Wntermute of 360 w. Lefille St. Salem Ore, Distinguished Flying Cross
 Col. William O. Eareckson of Reno Nevada Dsting uished Service Cross.
 Privates First Class Shirley L. Patton of Gowre la William k. Vandersuis of Gendora, Calf and Private Jack H. Watson of Hollywood Caif, were awarded Soldiers Medals for swimming to the rescue of land based fighter pilot who forced down in icy waters 2,000 yards ofshore
 Heroism At Kiska
 Captain Wintermute was awarded the Distinguished Frying Cross tor cool heroSm during bombing missions on enemy concentration at Kiska Harbor
 While returning from his first attack on KiSka his bomber was forced down the choppy waters and sank with two members of the crew.
 Captain Wintermute and other members of the crew were rescued after floating rubber raft for IS hours On another occasion while he was withdrawing from Kiska Harbor after another bombing raid the left wing of his bomber was struck by anti-aircraft fire few seconds after the burst of anti-aircraft fire hit six enemy fighter planes all firing explosive can non ammunition, attacked Captain Winermutes bomb