Navy Federal Credit Union

Carl Hoenshell was credited with the destruction of THREE enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II, all three victories coming on the same day in which he earned the Distinguished Service Cross and was himself killed in action.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    71st Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    1st Fighter Group

    Division:

    15th Air Force

    Action Date:

    June 10, 1944

    Headquarters, U.S. Army Air Forces-Mediterranean Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 37 (July 26, 1944)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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) Carl Clifton Hoenshell (ASN: 0-750592), 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 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, FIFTEENTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 10 June 1944, during an air mission over Ploesti, Rumania. First Lieutenant Hoenshell was among forty-eight P-38 pilots who rendezvoused with bombers from the 82d Fighter Group for a low-level, dive-bombing attack on the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania. While returning from the mission, they were attacked by German fighters. Out of ammunition, First Lieutenant Hoenshell instructed his fellow pilots to hit the deck and make a run for home. The last reported observation stated that Lieutenant Hoenshell drew at least three of the enemy fighters away from the remaining flight. He was credited with shooting down all three enemy fighters before he, himself was lost. First Lieutenant Hoenshell’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat, at the cost of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 15th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.