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Navy Federal Credit Union
Horace
Ellis
Crouch
October 29, 1918

–

December 21, 2005

Born:

Columbia

, 

South Carolina

Home:

Columbia

, 

South Carolina

Buried: 

Columbia

, 

South Carolina

Cemetery:

Greenlawn Memorial Park

Horace Crouch 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 he remained in the China-Burma-India theater flying combat missions until mid-1943.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Horace Ellis Crouch (ASN: 0-395839), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Navigator 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. Lieutenant Crouch 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.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Division:

    10th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, China Air Task Force, General Orders No. 18 (November 28, 1942)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Horace Ellis Crouch (ASN: 0-395839), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Bombardier and Navigator of a B-25 Mitchell Bomber of the TENTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Crouch, 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.