Charles
Koman - Paper Collection
(Submitted by
the Koman family)
Legion
of Merit Awarded Local Soldier in Kansas
Charles
Koman Given Medal For Outstanding Work
In Airplane
Maintenance Overseas
The Legion
of Merit, fourth highest decoration conferred by the United States
War Department
upon its battle heroes, caught up with Master Sergeant
Charles
Koman of 320 East Pike street, at Strother Field, Kans. recently
when along
with many other medals and Oak Leaf clusters to medals it was
presented
by Colonel Donald E. Meade, commanding officer, to the men who
earned
them overseas. The Legion of Merit for Koman was authorized seven
months
ago, but had just been received at this 72d Fighter Wing base
of the
Second
Air Force. Master Sergeant Koman, who served 22 months in Ireland,
England,
Africa, Sicily and Italy, won the Legion of Merit by his outstanding
work
in airplane maintenance. His citation as read by Capt. George
N. Rood,
adjutant,
at the presentation ceremony Saturday, follows: "For
exceptionally
meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding
services
in Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy, from 23 December 1942 to 2 February
1944.
Confronted with the lack of sufficient technical supplies, proper
maintenance
equipment, and trained personnel, he was instrumental in
keeping
the maximum number of aircraft of his squadron in operating
condition.
To facilitate operations at advanced bases prior to the arrival
of
his unit's
aircraft at forward fields, Master Sergeant Koman headed
advanced
maintenance echelons to assure facilities for continuous
operations.
His exceptional fidelity and outstanding achievements in a
highly
technical phase of the prosecution of the war effort reflect great
credit
upon himself and the armed forces of the United States." Master
Sergeant
Koman, who has been in the armed forces since 1931, is a brother
of Andrew
Koman and Michael Koman of Canonsburg, and of John Koman
and Steven
Koman of Ambridge.
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HEADQUARTERS
MEDITERRANEAN ALLIED AIR FORCES
Public
Relations Section - SPECIAL HANDOUT - 31 March 1944
For Release
with Communiqué
P-38 Lightnings
of the 82nd. Lighter Group, top scoring American Fighter
outfit in the
Mediterranean Theater, Thursday knocked down five enemy
planes while
escorting heavy bombers of the 15th AAP to SOFIA, to bringing
the group's
total of victories to 402. 2nd Lt. Alfred F. Collins, 95 Greenwood
Ave. Rumford,
R. I, received credit for destroying the 400th enemy plane,
Commanded by
Lt. Col William P. Litton, Shaw, Miss., the Group has flown
more than 10,700
sorties. In addition to its 402 victories the organization is
credited with
damaging many more enemy planes in the air and on the
ground. Nine
merchant ships have been sunk and over fifty enemy
locomotives
destroyed by the group when functioning as a fighter-bomber
outfit, The
82nds scored its first two aerial victories on Dec. 23 1942, on
the
first day on
a flight from England to Africa. The group's planes led the famous
low-level strafing
attack on the Foggia airdrome and it was the first Allied,
fighter group
to land on and operate from the Salerno beachhead, A highlight
of the group's
participation in the Tunisian campaign came on April 11, 1943
when its pilots
shot down 32 Axis planes attempting to deliver supplies to
the enemy,
Lt, Col. 'William E. Covington, Rockingham, North Carolina was
the group's
first commander. Following him were Lt. Col. John W. Weltman,
705 North Milton
St., Baltimore, MD., a pioneer in Lightning bomber tactics,
the North African
Theater; Lt. Col. Ernest C. Young, Stillwater, Okla., known
for his skip-bombing
attacks on the Pantelleria underground hangers, and
the late Lt,
Col. George M. Mac Nicol, Memphis, Tenn., leader of the Foggia
Strafing mission,
who was succeeded by the present commander.
Commending the
82nd's personnel Thursday, Lt. Col. Litton declared; "The
record speaks
for itself. Aggressive pilots, plus capable mechanics who have
kept the planes
flying, have made our Group what it is."
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