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So, when you consider some of these factors, who is really a hero? Is it based on the ACTOR'S PERCEPTION or should it be BASED ON WHAT THE AUDIENCE (people who didn't perform the act) THINKS?
Good question. A nugget of knowledgehere- the AAF didn't want L-5's in the first place- they were not bombers which they knew would win the war without any infantry or invasions or more nasty sorts of classical warfare.
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Not to belittle anyone, but flying a liason plane in WWII was hazardous, and you risked your life; BUT did it involve "feats of courage"? Aparently not since the modest pilot says it didn't.
The pilots are modest because that was the custom of the time- modesty in public deed. Congress recognized Jimmy Howard. He didn't toot his own horn, somebody else did, and for ends other than making a heroic example of him. More on that later.
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However would singlehandedly engaging 30 German Fighters with a P-51 that was low on ammo to defend B-17s rise to that level? I don't know what the pilot said; but it won a Congressional Medal of Honor for Jim Howard.
Very brave, no question. But how did Jimmie Howard feel about it at the time? He had an airplane, there were enemy aircraft, and what else did he have to do at the time? How about,
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Singlehandledly direct several squadrons of medium bombers from and L-5 to a target while under continuous enemy ground fire. Ground fire caused fire in the airplane. Passenger observer jumped, pilot rode the airplane to the ground, escaped capture and returned to friendly lines 2 days later
That was the squadron commander of the 14th Liaison Squadron, who received no medal for that episode. He was on a mission that 9th AF gave the highest priority, and flew it himself because it was so critical. So why didn't he turn around and go home when he was getting shot at? He's not around to ask, but why didn't he get a medal?
I don't want to start an argument on whether a P-51 pilot was more heroic than an L-5 pilot. But, you should realize that Liaison Pilots flew with a .45 and no armor at 90 kts in a combat zone, and courage comes to my mind. They were not flying a warbird meant for business with armor and machine guns. All the European liaison pilots were full of air medals. No CMH, but plenty of Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, and several were killed in action directing fire at an enemy firing back at them. No B-17 crews to witness the events, just infantrymen and units that didn't know what they were looking at.
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As near as i can tell, most of the WW2 combat vets consider that they did their job and that the heros are the ones who didn't come home.
Dan's got it. This is what I hear constantly, and I don't think it is a sound bite the veterans picked up. Every bit of glory after that, as far as celebrity goes, was created by leadership within the audience spoken of- you, me, and the rest of the US. When you are a General trying to fight for a post-war independent air force, do you glorify the SGT pilot who is stuck supporting the infantry? No, you glorify the guy in the highest speed weapons platform to meet the means for your ends. I don't know of any incidences of L bird flying which would have rated MOH, but I would bet I will find some before I am done researching.
You are right that the audience has a lot to do with it. But what that audience hears is carefully crafted and churned out for very specific purposes. Do you think the US Army wanted Desmond Doss, conscientious objector, medic, and CMH winner, to be a poster child for recruitment? Not really. The US Army is looking for bullet launcher carrier's, not moralist people who won't carry a rifle.
Very interesting topic.
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