Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 1 Line: 59

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Captain Gregory E. Good, a B-17 command pilot, was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, EAME Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars [Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes & Normandy}. Thirty combat missions were flown, with twenty-three missions as lead pilot for his squadron group, and on several occasions, the 8th Air Force. He was attached to the 401st Squadron, 91st Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force. On his seventh mission, German ME-I09s shot down thirteen of our group of thirty-six B17s. Our B-17, Qualified Quail, received extensive damage, including loss of oxygen system & one engine. We returned to base with no crew injuries. When the plane was overhauled, unexploded 20mm shells were found in the gas tank. A miracle. On 04 Nov. 44, our 23rd mission, leading the group, bombing on radar, an 88mm shell went completely through our left wing, knocking us out of formation and out of control. After losing several thousand feet, with one engine out and a huge hole in the wing, the plane was brought under control and we returned to base with one crew dead and three injured. Our crew received the DFC for bravery. The success of our missions was largely due to a dedicated, capable, and efficient crew, and especially of the skill and precision of lead Bombardier-Navigator, Owen Glen Cooper, who never missed the target.