Rank Insignia Previous Honoree ID Next Honoree ID


   
honoree image
First Name: Robert

Last Name: Dorwart

Birthplace: Seattle, WA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: U.S. Army Air Forces (1941 - 1947)



Middle Name: Jason



Date of Birth: 20 May 1919

Date of Death: 01 June 2007

Rank: First Lieutenant

Years Served:
Robert Jason Dorwart

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Robert Jason Dorwart
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Robert Jason Dorwart entered the U.S. Army Air Forces where he was trained as a Navigator on the B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and then commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. On 7 December 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he was there. He later participated in the Battle of Midway.

On 9 February 1943, now-First Lieutenant Dorwart was serving as a Navigator on B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in the 72nd Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Thirteenth Air Force.

On that day, 1LT Dorwart's Squadron was in action against Japanese forces while engaged in a search mission over enemy-held territory in the South Pacific Area, north of Guadalcanal. During the search, 1LT Dorwart's B-17, named "My Lovin' Dove," was attacked by 8 Japanese Zero fighters. The enemy circled at maximum gun range while conducting a series of direct assaults. During the initial phase of the air battle, the B-17 gunners shot down 2 of the fighters and 2 more were probably destroyed. However, 1 of the bomber's 4 engines was silenced, 10 guns were damaged and unusable, and all 9 of the crew members were wounded. After an hour and a half of attacks, the fighters finally gave up, leaving 2 of the B-17's engines silenced and a 3rd damaged. As a result, the bomber could barely hold an altitude of 20 feet above the water. The pilot ordered the removal of all possible gear and, after about an hour's effort, was able to reach an altitude of 800 feet. When a water landing of the disabled airplane was required, all of the crew escaped from the wreckage. The group of airmen paddled and drifted in 2 inflated life rafts through torrid sun and tropical storms for more than 600 miles. On the 16th day they made their way through a coral passage to the Carteret Islands in the heart of Japanese-controlled waters where, upon being recognized as Americans, they were befriended by Melanesian natives. The Melanesian's treated their wounds and provided whatever comforts the war-starved native settlement could offer. Sixty-six days after being shot down, the air crew was able to reach an island occupied by friendly personnel and were returned to their base. 1LT Dorwart's extraordinary determination and skill contributed greatly to the escape and safe return of his entire crew and earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. Two other members of the crew were also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the other 6 members received the Silver Star Medal.

1LT Dorwart's post-war duty was as an instructor in bombing techniques at Midland Army Air Field at Midland, TX.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Navigator Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Robert J. Dorwart, 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 an Officer on a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 72d Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group (H), THIRTEENTH Air Force, while engaged in a search mission over enemy territory on 9 February 1943, in the South Pacific Area. During this search First Lieutenant Dorwart's airplane was attacked by eight enemy Zero fighters. The enemy circled at maximum gun range, executing a series of direct assaults. Two of the enemy fighters were shot down and two more were probably destroyed during the initial phase of the air battle, although one engine of the bomber was silenced, ten guns were damaged beyond usefulness, and all members of the crew wounded. After attacking for an hour and a half, the fighters finally gave up the chase, leaving two motors of the bomber silenced and a third damaged. By this time the airplane was flying at an altitude of barely 20 feet above the water. The Pilot ordered the removal of all possible gear and the pilot, after approximately an hour's effort, was able to gain an altitude of 800 feet. When a water landing of the disabled airplane was necessitated, all of the crew escaped from the wreckage. The group of airmen paddled and drifted in two inflated life rafts through torrid sun and tropical storms for more than 600 miles, until on the sixteenth day they made their way through a difficult coral passage to a group of little-known islands in enemy territory where, upon being recognized as Americans, they received what rest and comforts the war starved native settlement could offer. More than two months after the encounter with the enemy fighters the air crew reached an island occupied by friendly personnel and were returned to their base. Second Lieutenant Dorwart's extraordinary determination and skill contributed greatly to the escape and safe return of his entire crew. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Dorwart throughout this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 13th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, General Orders No. 105 (May 1, 1943)

Death

First Lieutenant Robert Jason Dorwart died on 1 June 2007. The disposition of his remains is unknown.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19728857



Honoree ID: 312738   Created by: MHOH

Ribbons


Medals


Badges


Honoree Photos

honoree imagehonoree imagehonoree image

honoree imagehonoree image

honoree image

Remembrances


Tributes