Carlton Lawrence Hoag, Jr.
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

During World War II, Second Lieutenant Carlton Lawrence Hoag, Jr. was a Navigator serving with the 615th Bomb Squadron, 401st Bomb Group (Heavy), Eighth U.S. Air Force in the European Theater of Operations. On 30 November 1944, 2LT Hoag’s B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber (SN 42-31983), nicknamed "Mary Alice," was on a bombing mission against German targets in Germany. A flak burst from a German anti-aircraft gun struck "Mary Alice" and hit 2LT Hoag in the face and eyes, rendering one eye useless and paralyzing the muscles of the other eye. Despite his injury, 2LT Hoag managed to plot a direct 4-hour course for his plane from Germany to England through dense cloud. He held open the eye with the paralyzed muscle with his finger tip. Although he was almost unconscious from a lack of oxygen, the co-pilot, 2LT Martin Karant, repaired the navigator's oxygen system. The pilot, 2LT George Craft, gave 2LT Hoag the plane's air speeds and instrument readings while other crewmen furnished verbal map data. By mental calculations, 2LT Hoag obtained a correct reading and the flak-battered "Mary Alice," with 2 inoperative engines, made an emergency landing in England. 2LT Hoag’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

2LT Hoag later recovered full vision in one eye and was recovering from wounds in the other eye. During World War II, he flew 35 missions beginning with mission number 172 on 25 November 1944 to mission number 239 on 30 March 1945.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Navigator Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Carl L. Hoag, Jr., United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy during an air mission in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. Second Lieutenant Hoag's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 4 (1945)

Death and Burial

Second Lieutenant Carlton Lawrence Hoag, Jr. died on 6 November 2001 in Downey, CA. He is buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Los Angeles County, CA.

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