Richard H. Carmichael

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Richard H. Carmichael, Colonel (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 B-29 Very Heavy Bomber in the 462d Bombardment Group (VH), TWENTIETH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 20 August 1944, against enemy ground targets in Japan. While leading his group in a B-29 attack to Yawata, Japan, in the first daylight raid on Japan since the 1942 Doolittle raid, Colonel Carmichael was shot down and remained a prisoner of war until he was liberated on 29 August 1945. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Carmichael on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 20th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Richard H. Carmichael, Lieutenant Colonel (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 B-17 Heavy Bomber and Commander of the 19th Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 7 August 1942, against enemy ground targets in the Southwest Pacific Area. On this date, as Commander of the 19th Bombardment Group, Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael led sixteen B-17 bombers in a daring daylight, high-level raid over Rabaul. After dropping his bombs, Colonel Carmichael’s bomber was attacked, during which a crewman was wounded and the oxygen system was shot out. Colonel Carmichael dove to a lower level, evading enemy attackers until he could find the safety of the clouds to return to his base. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.