FRE 921
IMAGELieutenant Randall Dorton of the 301st Bomb Group receives the Distinguished Flying Cross. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp]. According to other press agency images of this event it is likely that these would have passed the image for publication 11 July 1942 and explained that Dorton recieved the DFC for the 4 July raid on Holland. Handwritten caption on reverse: '11/7/42.' Printed caption on reverse: "US airmen who took part in Independence Day raid receive decorations. The captain of the Boston - Maj. Charles C. Kegelman - and the members of the crew of one of the American Boston planes which took part in the Independence Day raid on enemy-occupied Holland were today, July 11, decorated with the DSC (for the captain) and the DFC (for the other three members of the crew) at an aerodrome somewhere in Britain. Associated Press photo shows: Maj. Charles C. Kegelman, photographed wearing his DSC, after it had been presented to him today, July 11, by Maj. Gen. Carl Spaatz, Commanding United States Air Forces in the European Theatre." Stamp: Reviewed & passed as censored - US Army Press Censor, 11 July 1942. Stamp: Not to be published until 00.30 DBST 12/7/42 The US serviceman in this picture is from the early stages of WW2 and is wearing a WW1-era "Kelly helmet" based on the British Brodie helmet. The gas mask bag in the picture is one which US servicemen carried in training and in North Africa and Southern Italy. When gas was less of a threat they ditched the gas mask "kidney bag" because of weight and the bag was replaced at the D-Day Landings by a rubberized bag on the chest like the ones they are wearing in the opening scene of the film, Saving Private Ryan.
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Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 15th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-22412
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Mission
- Date: 4 July 1942
- Official Description: