Paul M. Lipscomb
U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 34 (1945)
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Paul M. Lipscomb (0-671667), First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Reconnaissance Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 11 January 1945, in the Southwest Pacific Area. On that date First Lieutenant Lipscomb was wing-man for Major William Shomo, assigned together with an armed photographic and stafing mission against the Apari and Laoag airdromes. En route to their objective, Major Shomo observed an enemy twin-engine bomber, protected by twelve fighters, flying at 2,500 feet above him and, despite the odds of 13 to 2, ordered an attack. First Lieutenant Lipscomb engaged the enemy fighters along with Major Shomo and personally shot down three of the enemy aircraft. First Lieutenant Lipscomb’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
