Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    548th Bombardment Squadron

    Regiment:

    385th Bombardment Group (H)

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    November 13, 1943

    Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 11 (January 27, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Ben J. McCall (ASN: 0-672369), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber of the 548th Bombardment Squadron, 385th Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, as lead pilot of a high altitude bombardment mission against an armed enemy of the United States on 13 November 1943. Flying through clouds and great plumes of vapor-trail which made tight defensive formations extremely hazardous, Lieutenant McCall’s airplane suffered a collision with another airplane which tore eight feet off the tail of his airplane. Despite severe head injuries received during the collision Lieutenant McCall succeeded in flying his almost unmanageable airplane over the target where the bombs were released. Although his airplane was continually attacked by enemy fighters and ground defenses, Lieutenant McCall, unmindful of the severe pain from his injuries, flew his crippled airplane out to sea. Over the open sea the motors failed, necessitating abandonment of the plane, which was successfully accomplished in a rough sea. The devotion to duty, heroism, and skill displayed by Lieutenant McCall on this occasion was greatly responsible for the safe return of the majority of his crew members, and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.