Edward Paul Troy
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

Edward Paul Troy enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 13 December 1940.

On 17 August 1943, then-Staff Sergeant Edward Paul Troy was serving as Tail Gunner of B-17F Flying Fortress Bomber (SN 42-29559) nicknamed 'Stupntakit,' in the 323rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, SSG Troy’s unit was in aerial action against German forces while participating in a large bombing mission by 376 bombers of 16 bomb groups against enemy heavy-industry targets at Schweinfurt and Regensburg, Germany. Just beyond the German border, 2 sections of German Focke-Wulf fighter planes attacked SSG Troy’s bomber from the front and back. Both starboard engines were hit and the aircraft started to tremble to such an extent the pilot had to feather the propellers. As the Tail Gunner, SSG Troy was at the back of the aircraft and reported that one of his .50 machine guns was out of order. Then the rudder was hit by 20-mm cannon fire and SSG Troy was severely injured by shell fragments. Despite his severe injuries, SSG Troy continued to defend his station until the plane was shot down. SSG Troy’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Of the 10-man crew, 3 crew members were KIA; 4 (including SSG Troy) were seriously wounded and captured as POWs; and 3 others managed to evade capture, but one of them was caught just before reaching Spain. SSG Troy spent 13 months as a POW at Stalag IX-C.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Award Numeral 3
Prisoner of War Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Aerial Gunner Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Staff Sergeant Edward P. Troy, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Tail Gunner of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 323d Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 17 August 1943, against enemy targets near Regensburg, Germany. Just beyond the German border two sections of enemy Focke-Wulf fighter airplanes took Staff Sergeant Troy's bomber under fire both in the front and the back. The starboard engines were hit and the aircraft started to tremble to such an extent the pilot had to switch them off. Staff Sergeant Troy was at the back of the aircraft as the Tail Gunner, and reported that one of his .50 machine guns was out of order. The next contact the rudder was hit by some 20-mm. grenades and the tailgunner was severely injured by flying shell splinter. In spite of severe injuries Staff Sergeant Troy kept his position to defend it. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Troy on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 11 (1944)

Death and Burial

Staff Sergeant Edward Paul Troy died on 16 March 2013 at Houston, TX. His cremains are inurned at the Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Harris County, TX.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106997216/edward-paul-troy