(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Private First Class Herbert M. Wheatley, Jr. (ASN: 190049555), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Tail Gunner of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber of the 14th Reconnaissance Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Private First Class Wheatley, 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.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Herbert M. Wheatley, Jr. (ASN: 190049555), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Tail Gunner of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber in the 14th Reconnaissance Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Far East Air Force, while participating in bombing missions during the period 10 through 14 April 1942, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine islands. Private First Class Wheatley participated in a daring 4-day mission under the command of Brigadier General Ralph Royce, who led a flight of seven B-25Cs and three B-17s from Australia to a staging field at Del Monte on Mindanao in the Philippine Islands. Over the following two days the B-25’s and B-17’s attacked the many ships and the docks at Cebu, the air and harbor facilities at Davao, and Nichols Field on Luzon. The B-25 Mitchell’s were involved in over twenty sorties. They sank one Japanese transport and possibly two others. They also shot down three Japanese aircraft. All but one of the aircraft returned to Australia without the loss of a single flyer, and they brought out a number of important military and diplomatic personnel who had gathered at Del Monte to await evacuation. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Private First Class Wheatley during this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.