William E . Metzger , Jr . William Edward Metzger , Jr . ( February 9 , 1922 – November 9 , 1944 ) was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II . Metzger joined the Army from his birthplace of Lima , Ohio in October 1942 , and by November 9 , 1944 was a second lieutenant serving as the co - pilot of a B - 17 Flying Fortress in the 729th Bomb Squadron , 452nd Bombardment Group . On that day , during a bombing mission over Saarbrücken , Germany , his plane was severely damaged and several of the crew were wounded by enemy fire . Knowing that the most seriously injured crewman needed immediate medical aid , and fearing that he would not receive such aid if he was dropped by parachute into enemy territory , Metzger and the pilot , Donald J . Gott , decided to try to fly the crippled aircraft back into Allied territory . Once reaching friendly airspace , Metzger chose to stay behind with the pilot and seriously injured man while the other crewmen parachuted to safety . He and the pilot attempted a crash landing , but the aircraft exploded before touching down , killing all three on board . For their actions , both Metzger and Gott were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later , on May 16 , 1945 . Metzger , aged 22 at his death , was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in his hometown of Lima , Ohio . Medal of Honor citation . Second Lieutenant Metzger ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrücken , Germany , on 9 November 1944 , a B17 aircraft on which 2d Lt . Metzger was serving as copilot was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire . Three of the aircraft ' s engines were damaged beyond control and on fire ; dangerous flames from the No . 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly . Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire roared therein which was further increased by free - flowing fluid from damaged hydraulic lines . The interphone system was rendered useless . In addition to these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator ' s arm was severed below the elbow . Suffering from intense pain , despite the application of a tourniquet , the radio operator fell unconscious . Faced with the imminent explosion of his aircraft and death to his entire crew , mere seconds before bombs away on the target , 2d Lt . Metzger and his pilot conferred . Something had to be done immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator . The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision . 2d Lt . Metzger and his pilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land . Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded along to Allied - controlled territory . When that had been reached 2d Lt . Metzger personally informed all crewmembers to bail out upon the suggestion of the pilot . 2d Lt . Metzger chose to remain with the pilot for the crash landing in order to assist him in this emergency . With only 1 normally functioning engine and with the danger of explosion much greater , the aircraft banked into an open field , and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded , crashed , exploded again , and then disintegrated . All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed . 2d Lt . Metzger ' s loyalty to his crew , his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him , and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at its highest .