Willie Arnold Andrews

Technical Sergeant, U. S. Army Air Forces

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 5th Air Force, General Orders No. 97 (May 21, 1943)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant Willie A. Andrews (ASN: 18057188), United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Engineer of a B-24 Heavy Bomber of the 320th Bombardment Squadron, 90th Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, during an armed reconnaissance of the shipping lanes between New Britain and Manus Islands, on 30 March 1943.
When an enemy naval force consisting of four destroyers was sighted, Sergeant Andrews' bomber radioed the position of the naval force to home base, and remained in the area of the destroyers with the enemy's anti-aircraft guns blasting an intermittent fire. A flight of eight Oscars attacked from around the clock positions, making passes at the bomber, three of them coming within the range of our guns with the result that one Oscar exploded in the air, the second burst into flames, and the third went into a steep dive, smoking heavily and appeared to be out of control.
The B-24 bomber was maneuvered with masterly skill, circling and banking and placing all firing posts into the most advantageous positions against the onslaught of the Oscars. A cloud cover was reached to give the crew opportunity to re-check guns and ammunition, and then the bomber continued to shadow the naval force when nine more Oscars were sighted flying towards the naval forces, over it, and then flying along with Sergeant Andrews' bomber but well of out range of its guns.
Then the Oscars began the actual attack at an altitude of 4,000 feet, by pulling ahead and attacking from around the clock, with extreme intensity from the left side. One Oscar was hit and peeled off, and went into a steep glide smoking heavily but clouds obscured any further view. Again the bomber took evasive action in the clouds against the enemy fighters, while frequently descending to a level from which the crew could observe the enemy naval force, each time drawing fire from their guns. During one of these descents four Oscars were observed off the tail of the bomber, and two more were ahead at one o'clock position. One of the Oscars ahead of the bomber made a pass from twelve o'clock, and the other skirted around the bomber and came in from below.
The pilot immediately took evasive action in the clouds after different firing posts reported on the interphone system that their guns were out of commission, namely, two guns in the tail turret, the gun at the left waist window, one gun in the nose, and one gun in the upper turret, and the tunnel gun. Although there were no personal casualties the B-24 was damaged, with the hydraulic system shot, a large hole in #2 fuel cell, horizontal stabilizer damaged, and numerous holes in the bomb bay doors and fuselage, and the bomb sight was damaged. Despite the hazards the bomber shadowed the four destroyers for approximately three and three-quarter hours.