Carl C. Hoenshell

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Carl C. Hoenshell (0-750592), 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-38 Fighter Airplane in the 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, FIFTEENTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 10 June 1944, during an air mission over Ploesti, Rumania. First Lieutenant Hoenshell was among forty-eight P-38 pilots who rendezvoused with bombers from the 82nd Fighter Group for a low-level, dive-bombing attack on the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania. While returning from the mission, they were attacked by German fighters. Out of ammunition, First Lieutenant Hoenshell instructed his fellow pilots to hit the deck and make a run for home. The last reported observation stated that Lieutenant Hoenshell drew at least three of the enemy fighters away from the remaining flight. He was credited with shooting down all three enemy fighters before he, himself was lost. First Lieutenant Hoenshell’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat, at the cost of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 15th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.