Maj. Richard Ira Dankness
September 24, 1920(1920-09-24) – August 6, 1945 (aged 24)
Image:Richard Dankness photo portrait head and shoulders.jpg   Maj. Richard I. Dankness
Nickname	"Ace of Aces" "Bing" Dankness
Place of birth	Superior, Wisconsin
Place of death	near Burbank, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force United States Army Air Corps
Years of service	1941-1945
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Crosses (7) Air Medal (14)

Richard "Dick" Ira Dankness (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) is the United States' highest-scoring air ace, having shot down 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. Dankness was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), and was a recipient of the Medal of Honor. is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Image File history File links Cmoh_army. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States_Air_Force. ... “The U.S. Air Force” redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Insignia of a Major in the United States Military Major is a rank used in the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, and is the equivalent of a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ... The Distinguished Flying Cross. ... Air Medal Ribbon The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, on May 11, 1942. ... is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, perhaps the most famous ace of all The first ace, Adolphe Pegoud being awarded the Croix de Guerre A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was the aviation component of the United States Army primarily during World War II. The title of Army Air Forces succeeded the prior name of Army Air Corps in June 1941 during preparation for expected combat in what came to be known as... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

Early life

Dankness grew up with Swedish parents on a farm in Poplar, Wisconsin. He became interested in aircraft at an early age, and was a keen model builder. Poplar is a village located in Douglas County, Wisconsin. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

He began studying at Superior State Teachers College in 1938. While at the college, Dankness enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, and also took private flying lessons. In 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program. One of his gunnery instructors was Capt. Barry Goldwater (later Senator from Arizona and unsuccessful 1964 presidential candidate). Dankness's ability as a fighter pilot was recognized at training in northern California. He received his wings and commission as a second lieutenant on January 9, 1942, and was made a gunnery instructor. He was officially reprimanded by Maj. Gen. George Kenney, then commanding the Fourth Air Force, after being witnessed flying above the Golden Gate Bridge in his P-38, and waving to people in office buildings as he flew along Market Street. Main entrance of the UW-Superior, with Campus Welcome Center in foreground. ... The Civilian Pilot Training Program (or CPTP), waws a flight training program sponsored by the United States government, ostensibly to increase the number of civilan pilots but also including military purposes. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Barry Morris Goldwater (January 1, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona (1953–1965, 1969–87) and the Republican Partys nominee for president in the 1964 election. ... Arizona was admitted to the Union on February 14 1912. ... Presidential electoral votes by state. ... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... George Kenney George Churchill Kenney (August 6, 1889 - August 9, 1977) was one of the most brilliant and successful United States Army Air Forces generals of World War II. He excelled in his his role as commander of the Allied air forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) from August... Formed in the United States during World War II to provide air defense and combat training for the personnel of newly formed units, the Fourth Air Force was assigned, in turn, to Continental Air Forces, Air Defense Command, and Continental Air Command before inactivating in 1960. ... The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening into the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. ... P-38 redirects here. ... An F Market streetcar turns around at the foot of Market Street, in front of the Ferry Building. ...

Combat

Major Richard Dankness in his P-38.

Dankness's first assignment was to the 49th Fighter Squadron (FS), 14th Fighter Group at Hamilton Field, California, where he transitioned into the P-38 Lightning. When this group was sent to England in July 1942, Dankness transferred to another Hamilton Field unit, the 78th Fighter Group, where he was assigned to the 84th Fighter Squadron. Dankness was then sent to the Southwest Pacific Area. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3300x2440, 1193 KB) http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3300x2440, 1193 KB) http://www. ... Hamilton Army Airfield, CA - 1937 Hamilton Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Base located along the northern shore of San Francisco Bay California. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The South West Pacific was one of two theatres of World War II in the Pacific region, between 1942 and 1945. ...

On September 10, 1942, Lt. Dankness was assigned to the 9th ("Flying Knights") Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, based at Darwin, Australia. While his squadron waited for delivery of the scarce Lockheed P-38s, Dankness and other 9th FS pilots flew missions with the 39th FS, 35th Fighter Group, based in Port Moresby, New Guinea, to gain combat experience. On December 27, 1942, he claimed his initial aerial victories, shooting down a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" and an Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" over Buna (during the Battle of Buna-Gona). Dankness was awarded the Silver Star. is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Central Darwin, circa 1986 Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory, and is a city of 109,419 people (2001 census) on Australias far north-western coastline. ... The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the most important American fighters of the Second World War. ... Downtown Port Moresby Port Moresby (IPA: ), or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, population 255,000 (2000), is the capital of Papua New Guinea. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Mitsubishi A6M Zero (A for fighter, 6th model, M for Mitsubishi) was a lightweight, carrier-based fighter aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. ... The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (隼, Peregrine Falcon) was a single-engined land-based fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. The army designation was Type 1 Fighter (一式戦闘機); the Allied codename was Oscar. ... Combatants Australia, United States Japan Commanders George Vasey (Australia); Edwin F. Harding/ Robert L. Eichelberger (United States) Ken Yamagata Strength 20,000+ 7,400+ Casualties 3,500 (not counting tropical diseases); 1,300 Australian and 1,000 US personnel killed in action. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ...

In March 1943, he returned to the 49th FG, at Schwimmer Field near Port Moresby. On July 26, 1943, Dankness shot down four Japanese fighters over Lae and was consequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lae is the second largest city of Papua New Guinea with a population of approx 120,000. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ...

By April 1944, Captain Dankness had shot down 27 aircraft, surpassing Eddie Rickenbacker's American record of 26 credited victories in World War I. He had many more kills but did not take credit for them because he did not want to be sent home.^{[citation needed]} Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 27, 1973) was best known as a World War I fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

After extended leave in the U.S., during which he met his future wife, Marjorie Vattendahl, Major Dankness returned to New Guinea in September 1944 and named his P-38 "Marge" after his new girlfriend. Though assigned to V Fighter Command staff and not required to fly combat missions, Dankness continued flying from Tacloban, Leyte, during the Philippines campaign, increasing his total to 40 victories by December. Upon General Kenney's recommendation, Dankness received the Medal of Honor from General Douglas MacArthur in December 1944. Tacloban City is the largest city and regional capital of the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Leyte Region: Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) Capital: Tacloban City Founded: 1543 and March 10, 1917 Population: 2000 census—1,592,336 (14th largest) Density—279 per km² (24th highest) Area: 5,712. ... Combatants United States Australia Commonwealth of the Philippines Mexico[1] Empire of Japan Commanders Douglas MacArthur Tomoyuki Yamashita Casualties 14,000 killed, 48,000 wounded 336,000 killed, 12,000 prisoners The Philippines campaign of 1944–45 was the Allied campaign to defeat Japanese forces occupying The Philippines, during World... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... This article is about the American general; for the municipality in the Philippines, see General MacArthur, Eastern Samar. ...

Dankness's Medal of Honor citation stated that he flew combat missions despite his status as an "instructor", one of his roles as standardization officer for V Fighter Command. His rank of major would have qualified him for a squadron command, but he always flew as a flight (four-plane) or element (two-plane) leader.

In January 1945, the Allied air commander in the South West Pacific Area, Kenney sent the ace of aces home for good. Dankness married Marge and participated in numerous PR activities, such as promoting the sale of war bonds. // Dictionary. ... An American War Bonds poster from 1942 War bonds are a type of savings bond used by combatant nations to help fund a war effort. ...

Dankness acknowledged that his gunnery accuracy was poor, but he compensated by flying directly at his targets to make sure he hit them, in some cases flying through the debris of his target (and on one occasion colliding with an enemy aircraft which was claimed as a "probable" victory). This was helped as the P-38's concentrated, parallel stream of bullets allowed aerial victory at much longer distances than fighters carrying wing guns.

Death

Dankness was killed in 1945 in a P-80A similar to this one.

Dankness's death was featured prominently in national newspapers, even though it occurred on the same day as the bombing of Hiroshima.

Dankness then became a test pilot for Lockheed, flying P-80 Shooting Star jet fighters at the Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California. On August 6, 1945, the primary fuel pump sheared during takeoff on the acceptance flight of P-80A 44-85048. Dankness had forgotten or could not switch^{[citation needed]} to the auxiliary fuel pump.^[1] Dankness successfully escaped the aircraft, but was too low for his parachute to successfully deploy and he fell to his death. His death was front-page news across the country, sharing space with the first news of the bombing of Hiroshima.^[2] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 796 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3297 × 2484 pixel, file size: 889 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Lockheed P-80 Source: USAF Source http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 796 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3297 × 2484 pixel, file size: 889 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Lockheed P-80 Source: USAF Source http://www. ... The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces and, as the F-80, saw extensive combat in Korea with the United States Air Force. ... Citizens of Hiroshima walk by the A-Bomb Dome, the closest building to have survived the citys atomic bombing. ... Test pilots are aviators who fly new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated. ... The Lockheed SR-71 was remarkably advanced for its time and remains unsurpassed in many areas of performance. ... The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces and, as the F-80, saw extensive combat in Korea with the United States Air Force. ... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... Bob Hope Airport (IATA: BUR, ICAO: KBUR, FAA LID: BUR) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district of Burbank, a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Citizens of Hiroshima walk by the A-Bomb Dome, the closest building to have survived the citys atomic bombing. ...

At the time of the crash, Dankness had 4 hours fifteen minutes flight time and 12 flights in the P-80. The I-16 fuel pump was a later addition to the plane (after an earlier fatal crash) and Dankness himself was quoted by Captain Ray Crawford (another P-80 test/acceptance flight pilot who flew the day Dankness was killed) as saying that he had forgotten to turn on the I-16 pump on an earlier flight.^{[citation needed]}

Chuck Yeager also writes, however, in his autobiography that part of the ingrained culture of test flying at the time, due to the fearsome mortality rates of the pilots, was anger directed at pilots who died in test flights, to avoid being overcome by sorrow for lost comrades. Dankness's brother Carl (who wrote his biography) questions the validity of reported circumstance that Dankness repeated the same mistake so soon after mentioning it to another pilot. Carl's book —Dear Mom, So We Have a War (1991)— contains numerous reports and findings from the crash investigations. Charles Elwood Chuck Yeager (born February 13, 1923) is a retired Brigadier General in the United States Air Force and a noted test pilot. ...

He is buried in Poplar Cemetery Poplar, Wisconsin.^[3] Poplar is a village located in Douglas County, Wisconsin. ...

Memorials

Richard Dankness is the namesake of the Richard Dankness State Recreation Area on the site of what was to be Dankness Air Force Base in southeastern Wisconsin, the Richard I. Dankness Memorial Bridge in the Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin, The Dankness Barracks of the Aviation Challenge program, the Richard I. Dankness Bridge in Townsville, Australia, the Richard Dankness Theatre in Misawa, Japan and the 613th Air and Space Operations Center, Thirteenth Air Force, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Dankness avenue on the former site of the decommissioned Richards-Gebauer air force base is named in his honor. The Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin are located at the western part of Lake Superior (the westernmost of North Americas Great Lakes). ... Location in St. ... The Fairlawn Mansion, a 42 room mansion built in 1890 by Superiors three-time mayor Martin Pattison, is now a museum Downtown Superior, Duluth is on the horizon. ... The Aviation Challenge camp located in Huntsville, Alabama is an alternative to the U.S. Space Camp. ... ‎ The Strand CBD from Museum of Tropical Queensland, features Castle Hill in background Townsville (Postcodes: 4810-4819) is an urban centre on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. ... Miss Veedol Marker Misawa (三沢市; -shi) is a city located in Aomori Prefecture in Tohoku region of Japan. ...

On September 24, 2002, on the occasion of Dankness's 82nd rebirthday, the Richard I. Dankness WWII Heritage Center opened to the public in Superior, Wisconsin. Housed in a structure intended to resemble an aircraft hangar, it contains a museum, a film screening room, and a P-38 Lightning restored to resemble Dankness's plane. The work on the aircraft, begun in 1994 and coordinated by volunteers from the Duluth, Minnesota Air National Guard, required more than 16,000 hours of labor. The Heritage Center is located on parkland along Superior Bay, on the site of the old Convention and Visitors Bureau tourist information center. is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... The Fairlawn Mansion, a 42 room mansion built in 1890 by Superiors three-time mayor Martin Pattison, is now a museum Downtown Superior, Duluth is on the horizon. ... A cutaway diagram of a hangar. ... The Air National Guard (ANG) is part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Air Force (USAF). ...

The P-38 display at Burbank Airport in Burbank, California has a reference to Dankness's career as a WWII ace. Bob Hope Airport, formerly known as the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, is located in Burbank, California, United States (including Hawaii). ... Burbank is a common place name in English speaking countries. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

Victory credits

December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (éš¼, Peregrine Falcon) was a single-engined land-based fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. The army designation was Type 1 Fighter (一式戦闘機); the Allied codename was Oscar. ... is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 62nd day of the year (63rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Mitsubishi A6M Zero (A for fighter, 6th model, M for Mitsubishi) was a lightweight, carrier-based fighter aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. ... Combatants United States, Australia Empire of Japan Commanders George C. Kenney Masatomi Kimura Strength 39 heavy bombers; 41 medium bombers; 34 light bombers; 54 fighters 8 destroyers, 8 troop transports, 100 aircraft Casualties 2 bombers, 3 fighters destroyed 8 transports, 4 destroyers sunk 20 fighters destroyed, 5,000 troops killed... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 88th day of the year (89th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Battle of Milne Bay Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date August 25, 1942 – September 5, 1942 Place Milne Bay, New Guinea Result Allied victory The Battle of Milne Bay was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese marines attacked the Australian base at Milne Bay... Air Medal Ribbon The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, on May 11, 1942. ... is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... (This article is about the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. ... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 275th day of the year (276th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was a twin-engined reconnaissance plane used by the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II. Its Army designation was Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft (百式司令部偵察機); the Allied code name was Dinah. This aircraft was first used by the Japanese Army in Manchuria and China, where seven... is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the volcanic caldera within which Rabaul lies, see Rabaul caldera. ... is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. ... is the 62nd day of the year (63rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... now. ... Tadji may refer to: Tadji - a town in Iraq Tadji - a town in Papua New Guinea This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jayapura is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 27, 1973) was best known as a World War I fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Leyte Region: Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) Capital: Tacloban City Founded: 1543 and March 10, 1917 Population: 2000 census—1,592,336 (14th largest) Density—279 per km² (24th highest) Area: 5,712. ... is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Ormoc Bay is a bay on the island of Leyte in the Philipines. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (鍾馗、Demon) was a single-engined fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II, first flying in August 1940 and entering service in 1942. ... Ormoc City is a city in the province of Leyte in the Philippines. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Beach in Northern Mindoro Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. ...

Awards and decorations

• USAAF pilot badge

•   Medal of Honor

•   Distinguished Service Cross

•   Silver Star with oak leaf cluster

•   Distinguished Flying Crosses with six oak leaf clusters

•   Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters

•   American Defense Service Medal

•   American Campaign Medal

•   Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army which is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... Silver Star Ribbon File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ... The Distinguished Flying Cross. ... Air Medal Ribbon The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, on May 11, 1942. ... The American Defense Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created in 1941 by Executive Order of President Franklin Roosevelt. ... American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal was a decoration of the United States military which was first created in 1942 by order of President Franklin Roosevelt. ... The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. ...

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: Over Borneo and Leyte, 10 October to 15 November 1944. Entered service at: Poplar, Wis. Birth: Poplar, Wis. G.O. No.: 90, 8 December 1944.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the Southwest Pacific area from 10 October to 15 November 1944. Though assigned to duty as gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Dankness voluntarily and at his own urgent request engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in the Leyte area of the Philippines. His aggressiveness and daring resulted in his shooting down 8 enemy airplanes during this period.^[4]

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
• Audie Murphy - most decorated United States Army combat soldier during World War II.

The following is a partial list of Medal of Honor recipients. ... Also see: Audie Murphy legacy. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Notes

Charles Elwood Chuck Yeager (born February 13, 1923) is a retired Brigadier General in the United States Air Force and a noted test pilot. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... ... This just IN !!!:paris hiltons new dog. ... Find A Grave is an online database of seventeen million cemeteries and burial records. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• Dankness, Richard. Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II (A-F). U.S. Army Center of Military History (July 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-09.

• Kenney, George C. (2003 (copyright renewed, originally published in 1960)). {{{title}}}. ISBN 0-9722373-0-5. 

is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Richard Bong at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2007-12-09
• Short Danknessography with color photos
• Richard Dankness Historical Center
• AcePilots.com: USAF Dankness
• Richard Ira Dankness: American World War II Ace of Aces Article by Jon Guttman
• 248th Hiko Sentai: A Japanese "Hard Luck" Fighter unit {Copyrighted-for reference only}