Johnnie J. Able, Jr.
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 16 June 1943, Sergeant Johnnie J. Able, Jr. was serving with the 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), Fifth Air Force, in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

On that day, SGT Able was serving as Flight Engineer of a B-17 Heavy Bomber during a Photo-Reconnaissance air mission over Bougainville Island, the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. SGT Able was a member of a volunteer bomber crew that undertook an important and dangerous photo-mapping mission over the heavily defended enemy base at Buka. Just before the photographing was completed, about 20 enemy fighters attacked. The bomber was extensively damaged and 5 of the crew were seriously wounded. After a 45-minute running fight, in which 5 enemy planes were destroyed and 2 damaged, the bomber was flown safely to its base 580 miles away. SGT Able showed skill and determined courage on this voluntary mission that secured information of great value for subsequent operations. The courage and devotion to duty displayed by SGT Able earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

SGT Able was a member of the most decorated air crew in history. On this volunteer mission, CPT Jay Zeamer (pilot) and navigator Lieutenant Raymond Sarnoski received the Medal of Honor (Sarnoski posthumously.) All 7 additional members of the crew were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. These awards were in addition to several Purple Hearts and numerous other awards to CPT Jay Zeamer's "Eager Beavers" both before this mission, and in subsequent actions.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Air Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Flight Engineer Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Sergeant Johnnie J. Able, Jr., United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Flight Engineer of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial action against enemy forces on 16 June 1943, during a Photo-Reconnaissance air mission over Bougainville Island. Sergeant Able was a member of a volunteer bomber crew which undertook an important and dangerous photo mapping mission over the heavily defended enemy base at Buka. Just before the photographing was completed, about twenty enemy fighters attacked. The bomber was extensively damaged and five of the crew were seriously wounded. After a forty-five minute running fight, in which five enemy planes were destroyed and two damaged, the bomber was flown safely to its base five hundred and eighty miles away. Sergeant Able showed admirable skill and determined courage on this voluntary mission, which secured information of great value in subsequent operations. The courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Able on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 66 (1943)