Donald J . Gott Donald Joseph Gott ( June 3 , 1923 – 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 . Biography . Gott joined the Army from his birthplace of Arnett , Oklahoma in 1943 , and by November 9 , 1944 was a first lieutenant serving as a B - 17 Flying Fortress pilot 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 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 , Gott and the co - pilot , William E . Metzger , Jr . , decided to try to fly the crippled aircraft back into Allied territory . Once reaching friendly airspace , the two stayed behind with the seriously injured man while the other crewman parachuted to safety . Gott and his co - pilot attempted a crash landing , but the aircraft exploded before touching down , killing all three on board . For their actions , both Gott and Metzger were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later , on May 16 , 1945 . Gott , aged 21 at his death , was buried in Harmon Cemetery , Harmon , Oklahoma . Medal of Honor citation . First Lieutenant Gott ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrücken a B - 17 aircraft piloted by 1st . Lt . Gott 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 raged 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 , 1st . Lt . Gott and his copilot 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 . 1st . Lt . Gott and his copilot 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 alone to Allied - controlled territory . When that had been reached , 1st . Lt . Gott had the copilot personally inform all crewmembers to bail out . The copilot chose to remain with 1st . Lt . Gott in order to assist in landing the bomber . With only one 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 . 1st . Lt . Gott ' 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 .