I have some reflexion to submit to those interested in the Troop Carrier Command on D-Day. After D-day missions, a Distinguished Flying cross was awarded to officers of the Troop Carrier by General Order #179 HQ Ninth Air Force, dated 14 July 1944. "......a DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS is awarded to the following named officers of the IX Troop Carrier Command in recognition in heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy on the nights of 5 and 6 june 1944, and during the daylight hours of 6 and 7 june 1944. During the initial phase of military operations in northern France, these officers served with unusual distinction as troop carrier serial leaders. The courage, skill and........" Following the citation is a list of 40 names which match, for a great part of them with the serial leaders I know and are listed on my website. BUT... There are some differences that I cann't explain and the 316th TCG is among these differences. - Serial #18 : * We have an estimate of drop location showing that chalk #37 (lead plane of serial #18) was 43-30652. And this match with pictures as this plane was equiped with SCR-717. * Michael Ingrisano list the crew of 43-30652 as being Fletcher, Rayburn, Waters, Smith, Evans. * In the 316th TCG diary, there is a picture of the same crew taken during mission Boston but without giving their A/C serial number. My question is : Why Major Leonard C. Fletcher, if he was Serial Leader, was not awarded the DFC but only the Air Medal (GO #36, Hq IX TCC, 6 July 1944) ???? The four officers of the 316th TCG who were awarded the DFC are: - Lt. Col. Harvey A. Berger (serial leader in serial #41 - mission Freeport) - Lt. Col. Walter R. Washburn (serial leader in serial #17 - mission Boston) - Major Albert F. Fahy, Jr (serial leader in ?????????) (I have only serial #18 which was flown by the 316th TCG with a different information) - Captain Floyd D. Miles 37th TCS (serial leader in serial #5 - Pathfinders) Any information, help or explanation welcome. Thanks Another thought... The 316th flew two serials of 36 planes. In the first serial, the lead squadron was the 44th TCS. The serial leader was Walter R. Washburn (Hq 316th) and the squadron CO, Benjamin Kendig was Chalk #10, Flight leader of the second wave of 9 planes. If I follow the same logic for the second serial and the 37th TCS as lead squadron, it's possible to have Albert F. Fahy (Operations officer - Hq 316th TCG) as serial leader and the squadron CO Leonard C. Fletcher flying as flight leader of the second wave of 9 planes.. It means chalk #46 ==> Fahy awarded the DFC and Fletcher the Air Medal In the war diary of the 37th TCS, only Floyd D. Miles is listed as being awarded the DFC. What do you think? PS: of course, if someone have the Operation order of the 37th TCS showing the aircrews for this mission, he is more than welcome. [attachment=114] [attachment=115] [hr] To add some information in this research : - Two photographs of Col. Krause were taken at Cottesmore before boarding the planes.. One just near the exit door with Chalk #37 written on the fuselage, the second in front of a C-47 wearing the code squadron 4C and without pararacks installed. No pararacks means that the plane was equipped with SCR-717C (Ref: FO #1 - 52nd TCW - Paragraph X (2) ) #43-30652 was from the 36th TCS (code squadron 4C), equipped with SCR-717C (without pararacks) and lead plane of serial #18 (Chalk #37) [attachment=116] PS : If you have a greater format of these pictures (I don't know if they were cut or not) I would appreciate to see them