Elmer R. Winters
U.S. Army Air Forces-Mediterranean Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 45 (1944)
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Elmer R. Winters, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Gunner of an American Bomber while participating in a bombing mission on 18 July 1944, against enemy targets in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Despite severe wounds, Technical Sergeant Winters manned his gun during an attack from over 200 enemy fighters. He destroyed two enemy aircraft and damaged another. He took the only bomb strike pictures of the mission, thereby insuring valuable photographic intelligence data. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Technical Sergeant Winters on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.
