Melvin Gardner 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. He was missing in action on June 2, 1942, following a bombing mission against Lashio, Burma. Six months later his younger brother was missing in action as a member of the U.S. Army Air Forces in actions in Tunisia, North Africa.
Sponsored by:
Melvin
Jerold
Gardner
MIA (WWII) KIA
April 6, 1920
–
June 2, 1942
Born:
Mesa
,
Arizona
Home:
Mesa
,
Arizona
Buried:
Taylor
,
Arizona
Cemetery:
Taylor Cemetery (Cenotaph
Awards Received
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
SergeantDivision:
Doolittle Tokyo Raider ForceAction 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 Sergeant Melvin Jerold Gardner (ASN: 6296448), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Engineer/Gunner 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. Sergeant Gardner 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.