Details below: would the following actions qualify for a Medal of Honor?

2020-11-04T09:25:51-05:00

This is research for a novel, so bear with me, please.

Soldier on an Air Force plane. The airplane is officially doing a bombing run, but the classified portion of the mission is for the Soldier to parachute from the bomb bay after dropping ordnance. Antiaircraft fire kills the pilot and mortally wounds the copilot, among other Servicemembers.
Soldier gives first aid to the wounded Servicemembers while still under heavy fire, and when he feels the plane losing control he runs to the cockpit and takes over the flying — he has a civilian pilot's license. He completes the bombing portion of the mission and flies the plane back to the base, coordinating first aid efforts and working to save the copilot while he flies.

Would he get the Medal of Honor?

Could it be an Air Force Medal of Honor?

What plausibility issues do you see?

What would you change in this story to make it more believable or to ensure the character would get the Air Force Medal of Honor?

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Nov 4 at 2020 9:44 AM

2020-11-04T09:44:58-05:00

Obviously a large bomber so was bombardier controlling the aircraft during bomb run? Stretches credibility that private pilot could accomplish bombing mission. Where did he hazard his own life? If I were on the awards board would vote for decoration, but not the MOH.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 4 at 2020 10:08 AM

2020-11-04T10:08:53-05:00

You're missing crucial information for this decision. Was the Soldiers MEDPRO's green? Are they SSD/DLC complete? Have they completed their 350-1 training? Have they ever walked across the grass? What was their last APFT score? Are they doing community service? Is all their online training done?

Response by SSG Greg Miech made Nov 4 at 2020 10:24 AM

2020-11-04T10:24:27-05:00

Too vague and odd. Civilian Pilots license and completes a successful bomb run? Not wounded. Plane intact so it can be flown back? What type of plane that has two other gunners or other servicemembers and a bomber type? There was one air force sergeant given the MOH as he used his bare hands to remove a jammed flare that was about to ignite and toss it out of the plane. But blew and he was mortally wounded. MOH was fast tracked and some say it was too much for his actions. This guy would need witness statements

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Nov 4 at 2020 12:31 PM

2020-11-04T12:31:22-05:00

A list of questions: Time frame? WWII, no he would not qualify for a AF MOH, as there wasn't an AF. Is this a real scenario or a made up one? Made up, lack of detail I would say no. Actual, was one submitted, if not why?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 4 at 2020 1:44 PM

2020-11-04T13:44:38-05:00

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA you need to do more research. There are severe technical problems with your story. Most Air Force members and every pilot will through the bull s**t flag on this scenario. Here's why:

Carrying a passenger in the bomb bay of modern bombers (B-1, B2, B52) isn't practical. Most bomb bays aren't pressurized or conditioned. Passenger would have to bring oxygen plus very heavy clothing to keep from freezing. Think of pictures of WWII bomber crews with fully lined sheepskin flight suits.

Access to the cockpit from the bomb bay doesn't exist in most bombers. May exist in B-52, but is difficult at best. (After the human tail gunner was removed from the B-52, there is no need for a person go move from the tail of the aircraft to the cockpit.)

Flying a large bomber aircraft is not easy, especially with combat damage. The "glass cockpits" in modern aircraft (see picture) are very different from the cockpits in small aircraft on which a Person would normally get a private pilot license. All that said, your hero could get on the radio and call for help. With the pilot and copilot dead or seriously injured, completing the bomb run is not practical. With some luck a private pilot might get the bomber headed for home and maybe be able to land the aircraft. BTW combat crews practice procedures for dealing with injured cockpit crew and combat damage. The solution never includes people outside of the aircrew. In your scenario, the right solution might be to abandon the aircraft.

On B-2 there's only 2 aircrew, B-1 there's four, B-52 up to six. The cockpit layout is nothing like a cargo aircraft. You can't "run" to the cockpit.

You might be able to use this story line with a C-130 or C-17. Best would be an MC-130 (special ops version). The MC could be tasked to insert a special ops Army person. Could be done with High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) drop or a low altitude insertion (sneaking in under radar). C-130 is more flyable by pilot with rudimentary skills. Research MC-130 and rethink your story line.

Good luck.

Response by SFC Chuck Martinez made Nov 4 at 2020 2:48 PM

2020-11-04T14:48:36-05:00

Very interesting scenario and if in fact this was a true story, I would would have say yes! Giving first aid to the wounded while receiving heavy fire and then giving first aid to the co-pilot and bringing the plane back safely would be a task very difficult to perform under those circumstances. He not only saved the lives of the wounded soldiers in the plane and the wounded co-pilot, he also took over the plane and flew back to safety! I would consider the MOH to be appropriate under the described scenario.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2020 5:19 PM

2020-11-04T17:19:06-05:00

Based upon the scenario described it looks like you're talking WWII before there was no a US Air Force but there was the Army Air Corps. The Air Force wasn't created until 1947 The reason I make this assumption is that in any war after no one jumped from bomb bays because there was no ready access to bomb bay from a pressurized crew cabins starting with the B-29. That said the answer to the question is yes he would be eligible for the Army version of the MOH. The question does the act rise to the standards of an MOH Award. Certainly seems to be within the standards required for such an award. But it would also be well within the standards of the Distinguished Service Cross and certainly the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Nov 4 at 2020 7:25 PM

2020-11-04T19:25:08-05:00

What could have killed the pilot and wound the copilot yet allowed the cockpit to be functional enough to still complete the mission and fly back home? Doesn't make much sense.

Response by MSgt Sidney Lichter made Nov 5 at 2020 6:56 AM

2020-11-05T06:56:08-05:00

The type of private pilot's credentials he/she holds would have to be comparable to the type of aircraft--a single-engine rating vs any WW2 (or later) bomber probably wouldn't be compatible. Would have to be a multiengine rating (too many additional instruments to understand and keep track of). If any of the crew or other personnel survived, I'give you a "probably". As I remember, the qualifications for the Army and Air Force MOHs are comparable, so I guess the rank and service would determine which he/she was submitted for.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 6 at 2020 12:30 AM

2020-11-06T00:30:35-05:00

My experience is he'd have a very heavy gag order and details of the mission will be heavily scrubbed. BTW, you can't bomb from the pilot's seat. There may be an emergency dump button, but the bombs wouldn't be aimed, hence will miss by a wide margin. There is also the political aspects involved. A Service will not typically go to bat for bootstrappers that complicate a mission or the story afterwards. Some of our "heros" saved countless lives by purposely ditching or even popping off any number of McNamara's Morons (Project 100,0000) during 'Nam. Somehow the circumstance and method wouldn't shine well on the write up.

Response by 1SG Charles Hunter made Nov 6 at 2020 10:54 AM

2020-11-06T10:54:51-05:00

What about the soldier's TS mission, now aborted? Is the window of opportunity missed or will another high risk mission be needed to insert him? Was saving the plane and surviving crew more critical that his mission?

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Nov 6 at 2020 1:51 PM

2020-11-06T13:51:30-05:00

Some real Medal of Honor citations I’ve read would have him get parachutes on the wounded and push them out then take control of the plane to allow the able bodied crew to bail out then he with gets out or he loses control of the plane and it crashes

Response by 1SG Charles Hunter made Nov 6 at 2020 1:57 PM

2020-11-06T13:57:41-05:00

What happens with the post-bombing classified portion of the soldier's mission? Has a crucial window of opportunity closed? Must another high-risk flight be initiated to insert the operator? What cover story would allow the soldier to be on the bombing mission, since he was not an aircrew member?

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Nov 23 at 2020 11:49 PM

2020-11-23T23:49:24-05:00

As a private pilot if I was in a huge aircraft I have never flown, I am not finishing the bombing run and even as an RN, I am not rendering care. I am figuring out how much gas I have left and climbing as altitude will be my friend until I can get an idea of this beast I am now at the controls. There is nothing in my paramedic/RN toolbar that will save the copilot if I am not successful at figuring out the plane and landing.

Response by SGT Albert Bowman made Jan 8 at 2021 2:51 AM

2021-01-08T02:51:15-05:00

More likely to get downgraded to an AAM and a three day pass...then further downgraded to a Commander’s Coin...

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Oct 31 at 2021 11:38 AM

2021-10-31T11:38:02-04:00

For anyone’s who’s ever yelled Corpsman up and Doc comes and they always come no matter what’s happening. At one point in their career every Corpsman who is serving in a line unit in a combat zone does something heroic at risk of his own life, they all deserve a special medal. Its their job and I wouldn’t volunteer for that, some guys are just wired differently. So thank you to every Navy Corpsman serving the USMC.