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Re: Medal Of Honor
Jim,
Firstly, I believe that behind the deeds (and there were many deeds), one must have had a Superior's support to push up the ladder the according papers and petitions.
I remember several cases on the Royal Air Force where awards were not granted because the Commanding Officer (C.O.) was either jealous of his juniors, or did not approved the awards' petitions. For example, one of the earliest WW2 Commanding Officers of 77 Squadron received the DSO and later "barred down" such awards for juniors crews (at least this what I read or remember reading). There are quite a lot of such cases on biographies, etc.
Returning to the 5th Air Force, in special (am actually finishing the book "The Flying Bucaneers" from Steve Birdsall); General Kenney DID support his men, specially the fighter and bomb arm. They even flew alongside some though missions with them, on B-17s, earlier...He "knew" them personally....and when he asked them something, they responded accordingly.
Am not sure, but from what I read, I believe that in the case of the RAF, there was a huuuuge "Caste system" between the regulars and from High Classes and the volunteers (in war time). Maybe this is the reason for such difference in the system of awarding Medals or "gongs".
Take the Battle of Britain, for instance...the highest score was a Czech pilot...who got what? A DFM....whilst other British born citizens with highest ranks got their DSO and DFC along, for much lower scores....So, if you were a foreigner in the RAF, you have to prove your valour twice or thrice....to be recognized on equal terms to a British airman.
Returning to the Pacific Theater of War and the MOH. Am not a specialist and am sure that American Members of this Board will answer with property...but I believe that the Award was granted to the deed itself....not to the total score. I mean, when one single pilot managed to shot down 6 or more enemy airplanes....William A Shomo or McCampbell (USN), for instance.
This seems to have been the case with James A. Howard's MOH, which seems to have been stepped up by the leader or the Captain of the B-17s he protected, fighting apparently "alone" against a vast superior enemy force...
It is a fascinating topic indeed to further researches and reading....And, we also do have cases in the LW, where awards were downgraded....or not given due to clashes between the pilot or airman and his superiors....so, it was not only the Allied that suffered from "Bad Leadership" or "jealousy" from above....
Most humbly yours,
Adriano
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