On June 5, 1944, Lt. Col Leon Vance was tasked with leading a formation of B24 bombers over the coast of France for a diversionary bombing mission.
As they approached the target, his B24 was hit by flak, severely damaging the bomber and wounding several crew members including himself.
Despite this, he continued with the bombing run, but the plane was further damaged by multiple flak bursts. In all, 4 crewmen were wounded, 3 of the 4 engines were disabled, and fuel lines ruptured in the fuselage. In addition, one of the aircraft's bombs failed to release. Another flak burst killed the aircraft commander and wounded Vance again, nearly severing his right foot, which became wedged in cockpit framework behind the copilot's seat.
The B-24 lost altitude rapidly after the pilot was killed. Despite shock from his own wounds, Vance took controls and began to glide the crippled aircraft.
When the B-24 reached the English coast, he ordered the crew to bail out. He decided to attempt a water landing in the belief that an injured radio operator was still on the aircraft after he heard that the operator lost both of his legs.
From a semi-prone position over the power plant controls island between the crew seats, Vance flew the bomber mainly by use of ailerons and elevators, keeping a visual reference through the side window of the cockpit. Although the Liberator survived the ditching, Vance was pinned inside the flooded cockpit as the bomber sank. An explosion blew him clear of the wreckage. He immediately swam for over a hour trying to find the wounded radio operator (who unbeknownst to him, had bailed with the rest of the crew) until he was finally rescued.
After recovering from his wounds, Vance died 2 months later on the way back to the States when his aircraft disappeared over the Atlantic ocean. His body was never found.
He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and was presented to his 3 year old daughter in 1946. #zerofoxtrot #stayzero #ww2