Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    49th Bombardment Squadron

    Regiment:

    2d Bombardment Group

    Division:

    15th Air Force

    Action Date:

    May 26, 1944

    Headquarters, U.S. Army-Mediterranean Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 38 (August 1, 1944)

    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) Frederick Lonnie Tompkins (ASN: 0-689408), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism on 26 May 1944 while participating in aerial flight in while Piloting a B-17 type aircraft of the 49th Bombardment Squadron, 2d Bombardment Group, FIFTEENTH Air Force, near St. Etienne, France. While flying at 21,000 feet, Lieutenant Tompkins’ aircraft was rocked by an explosion which was followed by a sheet of flame that engulfed the forward part of his aircraft, causing him to drop from the formation. Believing that efforts to extinguish the flames were futile, Lieutenant Tompkins ordered his crew to abandon ship. Since the intra-communication system was partially destroyed by fire, only four of the crew heard and obeyed his order. Perceiving this, Lieutenant Tompkins elected to remain with the aircraft in an attempt to save the remaining crew members in his ship. Having headed his plane for the nearest friendly airfield and placing it on automatic pilot, he descended to the nose of the aircraft and began fighting the flames. Although dazed by lack of oxygen and virtually blinded by the smoke and flames, Lieutenant Tompkins continued his efforts until the flames were extinguished. Returning to the pilot’s compartment, Lieutenant Tompkins was forced to fly with his head out of the window, because his vision had been obstructed by the smoke and flames. While landing at the nearest friendly field, Lieutenant Tompkins deliberately ground looped his plane to a halt in order to avoid a thirty-foot ditch at the end of the runway, thus saving the lives of the remaining crew members. Lieutenant Tompkins’ valorous action and outstanding qualities of leadership reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.