First Lieutenant Donald Joseph Gott, an airman in the U.S. Army Air Corps, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on November 9, 1944 in Saarbrucken, Germany during World War II. At the time he was serving with 729th Bombardment Squadron, 452d Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. Gott was 21 years old.
Gott was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 18, 1945.
Gott was born on June 3, 1923 in Arnett, Ellis County, Oklahoma. He is buried at Harmon Cemetery in Harmon, Oklahoma. His medal is held by Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Gott is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 25 credited to Oklahoma.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken, a B-17 aircraft piloted by 1st Lt. Gott was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the aircraft's engines were damaged beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the No. 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire raged therein, which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from two damaged hydraulic lines. The interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator's arm was severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the application of a tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent explosion of his aircraft and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away on the target, 1st Lt. Gott and his copilot conferred. Something had to be done immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. First Lt. Gott and his copilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded alone to Allied-controlled territory. When that had been reached, 1st Lt. Gott had the copilot personally inform all crewmembers to bail out. The copilot chose to remain with 1st Lt. Gott in order to assist in landing the bomber. With only one normally functioning engine, and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again, and then disintegrated. All three crew members were instantly killed. First Lt. Gott's loyalty to his crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at its highest.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (November 9, 1944).
- Age at death: 21
- Resting place: Harmon Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Donald Joseph Gott received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Oklahoma →
Timeline
- June 3, 1923Born in Arnett, Ellis County, Oklahoma
- November 9, 1944Act of valor — Saarbrucken, GermanyAge 21. 729th Bombardment Squadron, 452d Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force Killed in action.
- June 18, 1945Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeHarmon CemeteryHarmon, Oklahoma
Biography
Donald Joseph Gott (June 3, 1923 – November 9, 1944) was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “Donald J. Gott”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
