This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Lieutenant Lewis P. Wells, Class 42-A Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/SCWBAIB/4386 Message Board Post: The Sikeston (Mo.) Herald Thursday, October 5, 1944 Page Four FINAL EDITION – M.I.A. PROPWASH First To Beat Record of Eddie Rickenbacker (picture of Capt. R. L. Johnson accompanies article) A smart appearance, nice manners, and the ability to charm others is not primarily the purpose of the Aviation Cadet program. A man is judged on what he accomplishes. Excuses just are not acceptable. Therefore, when thinking of M.I.A., rather than recalling Joe Goodegg who was a smooth dancer—let us think of and pay tribute to the men who have gone through here and proven to the world that once given the opportunity and training they had what it takes. It is with this thought in mind that this, the final issue of “Propwash,” is dedicated to Capt. R. L. Johnson, Class of 42-F, the first American pilot in this war to break Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker’s record of enemy planes destroyed in combat. For his achievements, Capt. Johnson has been awarded the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. HONOR ROLL Hall of Fame – Missouri Institute of Aeronautics In addition to Capt. Johnson many other outstanding pilots have graduated here. It is impossible to list all the deeds and exploits of the men passing through, so we have selected as best we could a representative cross-section. Naturally these men are graduates of early classes, but where they leave off, new men will carry on. For the following information the staff is indebted to Lt. J. H. Bowser, the Post Historian. FORMER CADETS OF 2561ST A.A.F.B.U. WHO HAVE BEEN DECORATED Lt. Chas. W. HUGHES, Class 41-G, Distinguished Service Cross (posthumous) Lt. Elza E. SHAHAN, Class 41-F, Silver Star Lt. Irving HERMAN, Class 42-A, Purple Heart (posthumous) Lt. Samuel JUNKIN, Jr., Class 42-A, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart Lt. Joseph D. NAVE, Class 41-H, Purple Heart (posthumous) Lt. Lewis P. WELLS, Class 42-A, Purple Heart (posthumous) Lt. Albert THOM, Class 41-D, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, Air Medal Lt. Grover J. GARDNER, Class 41-H, Silver Star Lt. Alfred A. HEYMAN, Class 41-G, Silver Star Lt. R. S. JOHNSON, Class 42-F, Silver Star Lt. Alden N. WOOD, Class 42-E, Silver Star Lt. Leslie W. FELLING, Class 41-H, Silver Star Lt. Robert T. JONES, Class 41-H, Silver Star Lt. Louis A. SCHAUER, Class 41-E, Silver Star Lt. James R. SCHROM, Class 41-H, Silver Star Lt. Dave H. HOYER, Class 41-E, Purple Heart Lt. Robert G. ABB, Class 42-F, Air Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, DFC, Purple Heart Lt. Frank H. WOLFMAN, Class 41-F, Air Medal Capt. Victor E. WALTON, Class 41-F, Distinguished Service Cross Lt. Gustave R. RAU, Class 41-I, Silver Star Lt. John J. ALDER, Class 41-E, Air Medal Lt. Arthur C. ANDERSON, Class 42-A, Air Medal Major Earnest D. HARTMAN, Class 41-I, Purple Heart, Air Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Service Cross Major Fred E. THOMPSON of Abernathy, Texas, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Legion of Merit for 440 Combat Missions Lt. John D. NICKS, Class 41-D, Indianapolis, Ind., Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Lt. R. W. MARTIN, Class 42-I, Hearne, Texas, Air Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters Lt. Clifton H. TROXELL, Class 41-I, Cleveland, Ohio, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters Major Russell F. GUSTKE, Class 42-D, Port Huron, Mich., Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 4 Oak Leaf Clusters Capt. R. R. CRITCHFIELD, Class 41-I, Barberton, Ohio, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters Capt. Claude O. MCRAVEN, Class 42-A, Marston, Mo., Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 12 Oak Leaf Clusters Lt. Robert E. GIBSON, Class 42-C, Rockville Centre, N.Y., Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal Major Martin WALSH, Jr., Class of 41-H, Youngstown, Ohio, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Capt. Charles H. DUBOIS, Class 41-H, Richmond Heights, Mo., Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal Lt. J. D. BAILEY, Class 41-I, Crosby, Minn., Distinguished Flying Cross Lt. Harold J. NUS, Class 42-H, Arlington, Iowa, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters Capt. George L. ROSS, Class 41-F, Fort Thompson, Ky., Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 8 Oak Leaf Clusters Lt. John A. CROCKETT, Class 41-C, Stephens, Ark., Silver Star Lt. H. H. HENDERSON, Class 42-C, Sharpsville, Pa., Air Medal