The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major (Air Corps) Edward Cragg (ASN: 0-421769), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight between Law and Salamaua, New Guinea, on 4 September 1943. Major Cragg was in a formation of sixteen P-38 type aircraft patrolling over Allied shipping, when five enemy dive bombers and approximately twenty-five fighters were encountered. In the ensuing engagement he shot one Zero down in flames and saw it dive into the ocean, and fired on another aircraft, causing it to explode after being hit by a short burst.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Action Date:
August 20, 1943
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major (Air Corps) Edward Cragg (ASN: 0-421769), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight near Wewak, New Guinea, on 20 August 1943. Major Cragg’s aircraft was leading a flight of P-38’s, which were escorting bombers, when fifteen to twenty enemy fighters were sighted about twenty miles from the target. He made an attack on one enemy fighter which commenced to smoke, and went down in flames. Another enemy fighter was observed making an attack on a bomber and Major Cragg engaged it, sending it into a spin and it was seen to hit the water.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Action Date:
September 9, 1942 – June 20, 1943
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 Major (Air Corps) Edward Cragg (ASN: 0-421769), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during the period September 9, 1942 to 20 July 1943 in the Southwest Pacific Area. Major Cragg participated in fifty operational flight missions in an active combat area where enemy anti-aircraft fire was expected to be effective and enemy aircraft patrols usually occur.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Action Date:
July 21, 1943
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major (Air Corps) Edward Cragg (ASN: 0-421769), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight near Bogadjim, New Guinea, on 21 July 1943. During an escort mission, Major Cragg’s aircraft was one of the thirteen P-38 type aircraft which encountered twenty to twenty-five enemy Zeke type aircraft. He sighted enemy planes to his left and dived from 14,000 feet to 10,000 feet to successfully attack one of the enemy aircraft causing it to crash. He then climbed back to 13,000 feet and made an attack on another aircraft which was seen to explode. The courage, skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Cragg on this occasion are worthy of the highest commendation.
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Distinguished Service Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Batallion:
80th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
8th Fighter GroupDivision:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
August 21, 1943
Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 54 (September 14, 1943)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 Major (Air Corps) Edward Cragg (ASN: 0-421769), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Fighter Airplane in the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces near Wewak, New Guinea, on 21 August 1943. Major Cragg, commanding his fighter squadron, escorted a bomber formation attacking an Airdrome. About twenty enemy interceptors were encountered. With all his squadron engaged, he observed ten additional enemy fighters about to deliver a coordinated attack on our bombers. With great daring, he throttled back, and using his plane as a decoy, diverted their concentrated attack upon himself. This action enabled our bombers to make an accurate and successful run unmolested. He then acted as sole fighter escort for the bombers on the return journey, shooting down one enemy plane and damaging another en route. In deliberately engaging ten enemy fighters single-handed, Major Cragg acted with conspicuous gallantry and contributed greatly to the success of the mission.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Batallion:
80th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
8th Fighter GroupDivision:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
July 23, 1943
Headquarters, 5th Air Force, General Orders No. 240 (October 23, 1943)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Air Corps) Edward Cragg (ASN: 0-421769), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Fighter Airplane in the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces over Bogadjim, New Guinea, on 23 July 1943. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Cragg, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Action Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major (Air Corps) Edward Cragg (ASN: 0-421769), 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 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.