Herbert B. Covell

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Herbert B. Covell, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United Nations as Pilot of a B-26 attack bomber, 3d Bombardment Wing (L), Fifth Air Force, on the night of 30 December 1952. Lieutenant Covell displayed outstanding airmanship and professional skill on a low level rail reconnaissance mission deep in North Korea. Lieutenant Covell sighted a highly lucrative target of five locomotives and thirty-seven boxcars in a marshalling yard and immediately attacked, despite hostile ground fire. Disregarding his own personal safety, Lieutenant Covell made repeated bombing and strafing passes which resulted in the destruction of three locomotives and ten boxcars and damage to two other locomotives and ten boxcars. Climbing to a high altitude, Lieutenant Covell contacted another B-26 attack bomber and directed it to the target area. His direction of this second aircraft aided in the destruction of one more locomotive and three more boxcars and damage to the remaining locomotive and the other boxcars. As a result of this mission, vital rail transportation facilities were destroyed, seriously hampering the enemy’s potential in that area. By his outstanding gallantry in the face of the enemy and his keen tactical airmanship, Lieutenant Covell reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.