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Edward
Joseph
York
POW (WWII) Escapee

Home:

Batavia

, 

New York

Edward York graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1938. He was one of the 80 airmen who, under the leadership of Jimmy Doolittle, disembarked from the U.S.S. Hornet in the first bombing raid over Tokyo in World War II. Following the raid, due to mechanical problems, his aircraft had insufficient fuel to reach China and landed at a field near Vladivostok, Russia. There, the neutral Soviets confiscated the bomber and interned the crew until they subsequently escaped to Persia and returned home in May 1943. Thereafter he served with a B-17 unit in Italy. He retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel.

Awards Received

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Colonel

    Division:

    Military Air Transport Service

    Action Date:

    1958
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel Edward Joseph York (ASN: 0-211511), United States Air Force, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with the Military Air Transport Service in 1958.

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Russia)

    Action Date:

    April 18, 1942 – May 1943

    Captain (Air Corps) Edward Joseph York (ASN: 0-211511), United States Army Air Forces, was interned in the Soviet Union after his aircraft was forced to land there on 18 April 1942, and was held until his escape to Persia and return home in May 1943.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Colonel

    Division:

    Air Force Security Service

    Action Date:

    1963 – 1966
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel Edward Joseph York (ASN: 0-211511), United States Air Force, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with Headquarters, Air Force Security Service, from 1963 to 1966.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Division:

    Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force

    Action Date:

    April 18, 1942

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Edward Joseph York (ASN: 0-211511), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Pilot of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Captain York with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.