Harold R. Christensen
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Harold R. Christensen was born on 10 October 1921, the son of Holger Martin and Nora Hansen Christensen.

On 14 October 1943, First Lieutenant Harold R. Christensen was serving as the Pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber with an unspecified unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, 1LT Christensen's unit was in action against German forces during an air mission over Schweinfurt, Germany. During that mission, 1LT Christensen's arm was shattered by the flak from a German anti-aircraft shell that had exploded by his window in the cockpit. Unable to fly any longer, he crawled down into the nose turret out of the way of those fighting to keep the damaged plane in the air. 1LT Christensen's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

1LT Christensen died of his severe wounds on 15 October, a few hours after the mission.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Harold R. Christensen (0-738094), First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy during an air mission against enemy forces on 14 October 1943. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Christensen on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 97 (1943)

Burial

First Lieutenant Harold R. Christensen is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Eagle Grove, Wright County, IA.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=95273869