Lt. Colonel Harry Conley, of San Francisco, who, it 28, is one of the highest ranking Jewish officers in the U.S. Army Air Force, has received the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while serving as Squadron Commander and co-pilot of a bomber raid on Germany, it was reported today by the Jewish National Welfare Board. He is also the holder of five other decorations for aerial heroism in the European theater, including the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Despite intense anti-aircraft fire and extremely heavy fighter opposition, his formation penetrated deep into Germany, bombed a target of vital importance successfully, and continued on to bases in another theater. The award citation praises Conley’s “courage, skill and determination” during “one of the greatest serial battles of the war,” which lasted over two hours and resulted in the destruction of some one hundred and fifty enemy planes.
Capt. Louis J. Feves, 35, Medical Corps of Portland, Ore has received the Soldiers Medal for heroism in the Gilbert Islands, the J.W.B. also reports. With complete disregard of his own safety, he aided in the rescue of injured and the recovery of deceased crew members of an airplane that had crashed on a mined reef off Tarawa. The plane was leaded with bombs, which increased the jeopardy of this under-taking. When the crew was safely away from the plane, he gave professional care to the injured.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
