Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Alwin
Max
Juchheim
POW (WWII)
February 24, 1922

–

November 29, 2014

Born:

Grenada

, 

Mississippi

Home:

Grenada

, 

Mississippi

Buried: 

Grenada

, 

Mississippi

Cemetery:

Woodlawn Cemetery

During World War II, Alwin Juchheim became a U.S. Army Air Forces ACE, credited with shooting down 9 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. While engaging enemy aircraft on May 28, 1944, Lieutenant Juchheim suffered a head-on collision with a P-51 fighter. The Mustang pilot was killed but Lieutenant Juchheim managed to parachute to the ground where he was captured and held as a Prisoner of War for the next year. He left active duty after the war, but remained in the Air Force Reserves for several years.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    83d Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    78th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 30, 1944

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Alwin Max Juchheim (ASN: 0-799574), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 83d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    83d Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    78th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 30, 1944

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Alwin Max Juchheim (ASN: 0-799574), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 83d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    83d Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    78th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 30, 1944

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Alwin Max Juchheim (ASN: 0-799574), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 83d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    83d Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    78th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 30, 1944

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Alwin Max Juchheim (ASN: 0-799574), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 83d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    83d Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    78th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 30, 1944
    Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 38 (June 26, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Alwin Max Juchheim (ASN: 0-799574), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 83d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 30 April 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Captain Juchheim was leading a flight of fighters. Upon hearing a call for help from a flight of friendly bombers, he proceeded with his flight to their assistance, and despite the odds against him attacked the enemy flight and destroyed one enemy airplane and damaged another. He then engaged and damaged an enemy fighter which was attacking a friendly fighter. With his remaining rounds of ammunition he damaged another enemy fighter although he was now defenseless. Captain Juchheim continued to dive on the enemy with such determination that the German plane flew into the ground and was destroyed. The extraordinary heroism, aggressiveness, and complete disregard for his personal safety displayed by Captain Juchheim upon this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    83d Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    78th Fighter Group

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Germany)

    Action Date:

    May 28, 1944 – May 1945
    NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 6902

    Captain (Air Corps) Alwin Max Juchheim (ASN: 0-799574), United States Army Air Forces, was captured by German forces after his fighter airplane was involved in a mid-air collision during a combat mission, and he was forced to bail out over enemy territory on 28 May 1944. He was held as a Prisoner of War until his return to U.S. Military Control at the end of hostilities in May 1945.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    83d Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    78th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 30, 1944

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Alwin Max Juchheim (ASN: 0-799574), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 83d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    83d Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    78th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 30, 1944

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Alwin Max Juchheim (ASN: 0-799574), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 83d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.