US Army Air Forces / Air Force Lt Col Edward Michael: Medal of Honor Recipient WWII

Welcome back, everyone!  Before we get into today’s main story, I’m going to share the YouTube short we released on the Duty & Valor YouTube channel about US Army SGT Cornelis Charlton and his actions during the Korean war.

Sergeant Cornelius “Connie” Charlton, was a platoon SGT with Charlie Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division on June 2, 1951 during Operation Piledriver in Korea. 

During an assault on a heavily fortified enemy position, his platoon came under intense fire, and the platoon leader was wounded and evacuated. Without hesitation, Sgt. Charlton took command of the platoon, rallied his men, and led the charge up the hill.

He personally destroyed two enemy positions and killed six enemy soldiers using his rifle and grenades. Sustaining heavy losses, his unit was pinned down, forcing him to regroup and push forward once more, only to be driven back by a barrage of grenades. Wounded in the chest, Sgt. Charlton refused medical aid and launched a third fearless attack, reaching the crest of the hill.

Spotting the final enemy stronghold on the far slope, he charged it alone, despite being hit again by enemy grenades. In his final act of valor, he unleashed devastating fire, neutralizing the position and scattering the remaining defenders. Tragically, the wounds he sustained proved fatal.  For his selfless bravery that day, Sgt. Cornelius Charlton was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 

In the year 2,000, the Navy commissioned the USNS Charlton in his honor.

Born in Eastgulf, WV, Sgt Charlton was only 21 years old when he died in combat and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.  

You actually got a sneak peak into today’s main story on the last episode we released, the episode about Marine Corps SgtMaj John Canley.  The YouTube short that we shared at the beginning of that episode about USAAF LTCOL Edward Michael really stuck with me and I wanted to tell you more about Col. Michael’s story.  So let's get right into it…

Edward Michael was born on May 2, 1918 in Chicago, Ill, to parents Stanley and Lillian Michael.  Edward spent his whole childhood in the Chicago area and graduated from Chicago High School in 1936.  I couldn’t find much about Edward’s life in the years following high school, but there is a note in his enlistment record that states his civilian occupation as a “machinists”.  Though that might be a broad category that groups many vocations together.

Wanting more in life, Edward enlisted in the Army Air Corps from his hometown of Chicago in November 1940.  I just want to take a moment to clarify one thing.  Prior to the start of WWII, all Army aviation was under the command of the Army Air Corps.  When I refer to Edward Michael as a LT COL with the Army Air Forces, it’s because in June 1941, the Army Air Forces was formed and became the successor to the Air Corps with all Army aviation now under its command.  This granted the air arm of the Army more autonomy.  The Army Air Corps did remain an active component of the Army Air Forces during WWII, though they were mainly responsible for doctrine, acquisition of aircraft, and training.  I don’t get bothered when Air Corps and Army Air Forces are interchanged when speaking of those who served in WWII, but I know others aren’t aware of the distinction so I wanted to explain it.

After basic military training, Private Michael was sent to Wheeler Field in Hawaii where he began mechanic training, though he really wanted to be a pilot.  He applied for and took the aviation cadet exam, but failed.  Not one to give up, Private Michael prepared to take it again, but before he had a chance to do so the Japanese attacked the US Naval Fleet at Pearl Harbor, not far from where he was stationed.  To keep planes from taking off and interrupting the attack, Wheeler Field was a prime target of Japanese planes.  Many planes were destroyed on the ground, but 12 pilots were able to get airborne and confront the attackers in vicious dogfights.  

By the time the attack ended, American casualties were 33 killed and 75 wounded.  As far as aircraft losses, prior to the attack there were 233 aircraft assigned to Wheeler Field, and after there were only 83 were still in commission. 

Months later, PVT Michael was finally accepted into pilot training.  He excelled in training at Douglas Army AirField in Arizona and ended up receiving his wings and a commission as a 2LT on April 12, 1943.

There isn’t much written about LT Michael prior to the mission that solidified his legacy in American combat aviation, but by April 1944, he had been promoted to 1LT and was flying combat missions over Europe in his B-17 Flying Fortress that he named Bertie Lee after his first wife.  

Originally, once aircrews completed 25 combat missions, they were rotated back to the US.  However on April 11, 1944, LT Michael, and his crew, were about to take off on their 26th of the war.  That’s because by this time, the minimum number of combat missions required from aircrew had been increased to 30.  

The mission that day, code named mission 298, was a large one.  A total of 917 B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators took off with an escort of 819 fighter aircraft.  LT Michael was one of 341 B-17’s in the first of three sections.  He, along with 127 other bombers, were tasked with bombing a ball bearing plant in Stettin, Germany, now in present day Poland.

As they approached their target, the Bertie Lee was singled out by enemy fighters.  Fighter after fighter, took turns attacking the bomber, even risking their own planes by ignoring allied fighter escorts and by flying through their own flak in an effort to finish taking down LT Michael’s bomber.   

The Bertie Lee was damaged extensively from nose to tail by exploding cannon fire and it was knocked out of formation.  As it descended, a large number of German fighters followed it, unloading on the bomber with all they had, with one enemy fighter finding its target, hitting the cockpit with an exploding cannon shell. 

The copilot was hit and LT Michael was badly wounded in his right thigh.  In addition, the explosion damaged instruments and blew out a side window.  With smoke filling the cockpit and hydraulic fluid covering the windshield, LT Michael had no visibility.

As they were hurtling towards the ground, the bomber's controls failed to respond, eventually dropping 3,000 feet before LT Michael was able to level it off. 

Moments later, the radio operator reported that the bomb bay was hit by three cannon shells and it was engulfed in flames after it had ignited the incendiary bombs on board.  In fear of the fire setting off an explosion of the remaining incendiary bombs or the substantial fuel still in the tanks, the order was given to pull the emergency release lever.  But it failed.

Without hesitating, LT Michael ordered his men to bail out.  The engineer, who was also the top turret gunner,  was so badly wounded that he couldn’t don his parachute.  LT Michael was able to help the man into it and then pulled the parachute’s rip cord as the man jumped out of the bomber.    

Of the 10 aircrew, seven bailed out.  LT Michael noticed that the bombardier was still firing at enemy fighters so he ordered him to stop and bail out as well.  The bombardier acknowledged the order and grabbed his parachute.  Just as he was about to put it on, he noticed the pack was hit by shrapnel and was riddled with holes, making it useless.

Though LT Michael fully intended on jumping from the crippled plane, he knew that he couldn’t do that now as it would doom the bombardier to certain death.  The new plan was to find a place where he could crash land the bomber, thus giving himself, the bombardier and the copilot a chance at survival. 

For 45 minutes, LT Michael disregarded his painful and badly bleeding wounds, as he violently evaded attacking fighters.  He finally lost them in a cloud bank, but as he emerged from the other side, he flew directly into a barrage of flak.  The accuracy of the flak forced him down to treetop level, but he flew through it and continued towards France.

By this point, they were now on high alert, knowing that they may have to attempt that crash landing and any moment.  Though LT Michael wanted to fly as far as he could to increase their odds of escape. 

The longer the flight lasted, the more exhausted LT Michael was becoming.  Blood pouring from his wounds was pooling on the floor and he eventually lost consciousness.   

 The copilot then took the controls of the Bertie Lee and was able to fly it to England, where he spotted RAF Grimsby on the English coast.  As they neared, LT Michael regained consciousness and insisted on taking over the controls and attempting the landing, which was going to be dangerous.

The bomb bay doors were stuck open, the hydraulic system and altimeter had been shot out.  As if that wasn’t enough, the airspeed indicator wasn’t functioning, the flaps weren’t responding, and the ball turret, which was located on the belly of the aircraft, was jammed with the guns pointing downwards.

Faced with all this, LT Michael miraculously landed the bomber without incident.

Of all the men that took part on Mission 298, 19 were killed in action, 31 wounded, and 668 reported as missing in action.  In addition, 52 B-17’s were lost and 4 more damaged beyond repair.  12 B-24’s were lost, and one damaged beyond repair.  Fighter losses were seven P-47’s and nine P-51’s.

The seven men that bailed from the Berti Lee were all captured and held as POWs by the Germans. 

Everyone survived the crash landing and LT Michael was sent back to the US to recover from his wounds.

For his actions on Apr. 11, 1944,  LT Edward Michael was awarded the Medal of Honor, receiving it on Jan. 15, 1945.

Edward Michael was later promoted to Captain and was transferred to the Air Force when it was formed in 1947.  He took on many roles in the Air Force over the decades that followed before retiring in 1971 at the rank of LT COL. 

Following his retirement, he settled in California and then Utah, where he became active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

LT COL Edward Michael passed away on  May 10, 1994 at the age of 76 and is buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah.

Edward Michael’s courage exemplifies the highest ideals of military service, embodying the unwavering spirit of the Greatest Generation. On a fateful day over Germany, with his B-17 riddled by enemy fire and his crew’s survival hanging by a thread, he refused to abandon a wounded airman, defying insurmountable odds to bring his bomber and crew safely home. His actions remind us that true heroism lies in the resolve to protect others, even at the risk of one's own life.