Wayne Edward Downing, born 1919 in Ute, Iowa. Graduated East Sioux City IA HS, 1937. He worked his way through three years of college at Denver University CO then volunteered -for the aviation cadet program. Later degrees were earned at Arizona University (BS 1958), and Maine University (Med 1963).

1942-43. He received his commission and pilot wings, USAAF Class 42F, 4 July 1942. He was assigned to the 84th Bomber Group (DIVE) as an A-31 Vengeance Pilot at Hunter Field GA; 85th Bomber Group (DIVE) as an A-24 Dauntless Pilot at Waycross, GA and Army maneuvers in TN; 46th Bomber Group (L) as B-25 Mitchel Pilot at Will Rogers Field, OK; and 30th Recon SQ as A-20 Havoc Pilot at Northern Field, TN.

From 1943-45, he flew 86 combat missions from England and France as an A-20 Havoc and an A-26 Invader Pilot with the 2911 Bomber Squadron (L),67RG and 668 Bomber Squadron (L), and 670 Bomber Squadron (L) o-f the 416th Bomb Group. US decorations awarded: Distinguished Flying Cross, 17 Air Medals, 6 ETO Battle Stars, and two Presidential Unit Citations.

From 1946-49 assigned to Aircraft Maintenance Officer School at Chanute Field, IL and then to Central and South Pacific to participate in Search and Recovery of "Body Bones, Bombs and Aircraft crashes" not yet recovered from WW II with USS LST 711 as cruise Hq.

1949-50 assigned as a F-82 Twin Mustang Pilot, 27th Fighter Wing at Bergstrom AFB TX.

1951-52 completed engineering courses, armament courses, munitions courses and radiological courses at Minnesota University, MN, Fairchild AFB, WA, Edgewood Arsenal, MD, Lowry AFB, CO and flew the Tumbler-Snapper Atomic Tests in Nevada.

1952-53 assigned to new Jet Bomber Program. Completed Jet Navigator, Air Radar Operator, Bombardier, and Air Gunner schools at Ellington AFB, TX, Mather AFB, CA and Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ; and received the respective USAF aeronautical ratings.

1953-59 assigned as B-47 Stratojet Pilot and Aircraft Commander, 65 Bomber Squadron, 43d Bomb Group Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ with Cold War mission TDYs to England, North Africa, Alaska and Guam.

1959-63 assigned as B-52 Stratofortress Pilot and Aircraft Commander, 341 Bomber Squadron, 4038th Strategic Wing Dow AFB, ME with Cold War Airborne Alert missions to Russia's early warning net locations.

1963-98 taught mathematics courses in high school and community college. In summer recesses worked with NATO country Military Reserve Officers in Europe. Completed all the levels of US Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue training and flew search missions for missing aircraft, people and smugglers in mountains and desert of US Southwest. In 1982 taught mathematics to sailors of the US Navy's Independance Battle Group operating in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea based on US Navy's DDG-2 C.F.Adams.

1991-99 he did accounting work with Keyes Motor Company of Van Nuys CA.

He married Norma Raley Downing, a US Army nurse who landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, France in July 1944 and nursed the wounded there through the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and on until World War II ended. They have a daughter Nancy and granddaughter Sara. Current home is in Thousand Oaks, CA.

His citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross reads: * X

For heroism and extraordinary achievement while piloting an A-20 aircraft. Lieutenant Downing's many sorties into enemy territory have led him against the enemy's fiercest opposition. He has always demonstrated the highest standards of the service in combating overwhelming odds. Many times he has suffered damaging blows to his aircraft, but has always brought his crew home safely. His competent aerial ability and courageous performance of duty in completing his missions have earned him the respect of all in his squadron, and reflect the highest credit upon the Army Air Forces.

The following from "The 9th Air Force in World War II" by Kenn C. Rust, page 89:

While Cherbourg was being taken in the last days of June, the 9th Air Force supported the operations there and also continued air-ground support and interdiction operations to the south and east in the same pattern followed since D-Day.

On 29 June, 1st Lt. Wayne E. Downing, 416th Bomb Group led one element of A-20s in an attack on St. Hilaire Vitre where advancing forces were meeting stiff opposition from a firmly entrenched enemy. On the way in weather forced the formations down to 1,500 feet where they met an intense hail of light and medium flak. Downing's A-20 was hit by several shells that peeled off about one foot of covering from the leading edge of the left wing, pierced the fuel tanks in seven places and damaged the left engine. At almost the same time, the A-20 on his wing was hit and went down in flames. He continued to lead his element despite the damage and continuing heavy enemy fire and released his bombs, shattering the target. Thereupon, he returned to England alone where, due to leaking fuel, he had to make an emergency landing at Bognor Regis on the southern English coast. Coming in he found he had a flat left main tire but managed to set the A-20 down without further damage.