August V. Degenaro

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to August V. DeGenaro (0-79281), Second 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-47 Fighter Airplane in the 82d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 14 July 1943, in the European Theater of Operations. While escorting bombers which attacked an airfield at Amiens, Second Lieutenant DeGenaro destroyed two FW-190s and damaged another. During combat, however, he was severely injured in both hands, his right knee and both ankles. Because of his injuries, he had to fly his Thunderbolt with his forearms. His instruments were shot out, his right aileron was gone, his right wing was badly shot up, and his tail surfaces were damaged. Although barely able to maneuver the plane, he found the English Channel and headed across, ducking into low clouds to evade three pursuing FW-190s which followed him almost to the British coast. He had planned on making a crash landing, but after crossing the coast he discovered his safety belt was unfastened (he had unhooked it in combat) and was unable to fasten it again because of his wounds. Realizing that baling out over land would mean his aircraft would crash into a coastal town, he headed out to sea again, baling out in view of a fishing boat which then rescued him. With great courage Lieutenant DeGenaro risked drowning rather than let his plane crash into a town. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant DeGenaro on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.