Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was established by Executive Order 9265, on November 6, 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was awarded to any member of the United States armed forces for 30 days of continual service performed in the theater of operations between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946. This medal was presented to Tech. Sgt. Bernard Mechanic

Tech. Sgt. Bernard Mechanic served as a gunner/radio operator with the 376th Bomb Group 9th Air Force that flew Consolodate B-24s. He was a very early member of this group that operated out of North Africa in 1943. Sgt. Mechanic wore this jacket during Operation Tidal Wave on August 1, 1943. This raid on the Ploesti oil refineries is one of the most famous and daring individual bombing raids conducted by heavy bombers during the war. The plan called 177 B-24s flying at dangerously low altitudes of 300 to 500 feet to evade German radar. Normal bombing operations averaged 20,000 to 25,000 feet. Due to navigation and pilot error as well as alert German aerial defenses, the plan quickly fell apart. The raid suffered devastating loses 53 aircraft were shot down, 440 crewmembers were killed and 220 take as prisoners of war. Sgt. Mechanic was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery during this mission.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Type AWARDS-Medals & Ribbons Physical Description European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Obverse: relief of three soldiers and landing craft depicted, embossed text "EUROPE AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAINGN" Reverse: relief of an eagle depicted, embossed text "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1941-1945"; green ribbon with brown stripe, red and white strip; red, white and blue center stripes, and blue and black stripe. Dimensions 3-D (Overall): 7.1 × 3.7 × 0.5cm (2 13/16 × 1 7/16 × 3/16 in.)
 Materials Copper Alloy
Silk
Iron Alloy
Adhesive
Velcro
 Inventory Number A20181352000 Credit Line Gift of Mark L. Machanic, Nephew Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.