This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Graham, Gordon Marion (Gordy), Lt Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Taft, California
Last Address Lancaster, Virginia
Date of Passing Mar 22, 2008
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Gordon M. Graham (AFSN: 0-7661/AO 424744), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Vice Commander of the SEVENTH Air Force, during the period from 15 July 1966 to 15 August 1967. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Graham reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
General Orders: Department of the Air Force, Special Order GB-259 (July 20, 1967)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (Air Corps) Gordon M. Graham (AFSN: 0-7661/AO 424744), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane and Commander of the 354th Fighter Squadron, EIGHTH Air Force, in action from October 1944 to April 1945. To better equip himself for the responsibilities attendant to leading Fighter units in combat, Colonel Graham flew practically every position in the squadron formation. His willingness to share in the same risks and dangers as the other pilots quickly earned for him the respect and admiration of the entire unit. As proof of his combat skill, enthusiasm, and zealous fighting spirit, Colonel Graham can look with pride on his outstanding record of nine enemy planes destroyed between 8 April 1945 and 16 April 1945. Colonel Graham's earnest prosecution of the aerial offensive against the enemy during this period reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
General Orders: Headquarters, 8th Air Force, General Orders No. 101 (1945)
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Central Europe Campaign (1945)
From Month/Year
March / 1945
To Month/Year
May / 1945
Description On March 22, 1945, the U.S. Third Army established a second salient, in addition to the one at Remagen, across the Rhine River at Oppenheim, 288 miles southwest of Berlin. The next day its troops also crossed the river at Boppard, 40 miles northwest of Oppenheim. Farther north, British and Canadian forces went across near Wesel, 65 miles northwest of Bonn. Ninth Air Force and Royal Air Force troop carriers and gliders dropped an American and a British airborne division north of Wesel on March 24, while the U.S. Ninth Army crossed the river 10 miles southeast of Wesel. The next day the U.S. First Army began an advance into Germany from Remagen, just south of Bonn, and on March 26 the Seventh Army crossed the Rhine River north of Mannheim, about 25 miles south of Oppenheim. Five days later, on March 31, French troops crossed the Rhine 10 miles south of Mannheim.
Before the Allied armies began crossing the Rhine in force, Allied air forces bombed and strafed German positions in the contested areas along the river. Heavy bombers also flew battlefield interdiction missions between March 21 and 24, before returning to strategic bombardment missions against targets in Germany. Although little of strategic value remained because of the destruction wrought by the
combined bomber offensive, oil refineries and fuel depots remained primary targets.
The Luftwaffe could no longer effectively oppose the heavy bombers nor could it provide close air support for retreating German troops.
When fuel was available, the enemy continued to intercept Allied bomber formations with a few fighter aircraft. On the battle front, AAF fighter-bombers flew close air support and tactical reconnaissance missions for Allied forces, while medium bombers attacked bridges, trucks, troop concentrations, railroads, and airfields. Troop carrier and transport aircraft flew critically needed supplies to forward airfields that had been rebuilt by aviation engineers behind the advancing Allied armies. After delivering supplies, the pilots loaded wounded soldiers and liberated prisoners of war and returned them to the rear areas. The last mission of the AAF's heavy bombers in Europe involved flying supplies to the starving population in The Netherlands.
