This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Michael Bridge
to remember
Novosel, Michael J., Sr., Lt Col.
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Contact Info
Home Town Etna, PA
Last Address Washington, DC
Date of Passing Apr 02, 2006
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Michael Novosel joined the Army Air Corps on February 7, 1941. After completing flight training, he was assigned as a test pilot until 1945. He was assigned to the Pacific theater as a B-29 command pilot for the duration of WW2. He served in the Army Air Corps and then in the Air Force Reserves until 1964. In 1964, then Lt Col Novosel wanted to make a contribution to the growing Vietnam War. The Air Force only offered him a desk job in the states so he approached the Army who decided that with his extensive aviation experience, he would be a good candidate for flying "dustoff" medical evacuation helicopters. Mike Novosel then resigned his commision in the USAF Reserves and was commissioned a Warrant Office in the US Army. Warrant Officer Novosel would go on to serve two tours in Vietnam as a Dustoff pilot and would end up accumulating 2,038 hours of combat flight and 2,345 aerial missions that evacuated 5,589 wounded. During his two tours in Vietnam, he would end up earning the Purple Heart, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Medal of Honor. When he retired from active duty in November 1984, he was the last WW2 aviator still on active flying status in the US armed forces.
WWII - Pacific Theater of Operations/Western Pacific Campaign (1944-45)
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Description (Western Pacific Campaign 15 June 1944 to 2 September 1945) Attacks on Truk, where the Japanese had a major base, continued as preparations were made for the invasion of the Marianas. The American troops that landed on Saipan on 15 June 1944 met bitter opposition; but, after a desperate Japanese counterattack on 7 July, organized resistance soon terminated. Tinian, invaded on 25 July, was won by I August. Guam, which had been seized by the Japanese on 10 December 1941, was invaded on 20 July and regained after 20 days of fighting. With the conquest of the Marianas, the United States gained valuable bases for an aerial offensive against Japan itself. To provide bases for operations against the Philipgines, the Palaus were invaded in mid-September. Later, aerial attacks were made on Formosa to support the invasion of the Philippines and Okinawa.
