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Contact Info
Home Town Jamestown, North Dakota
Date of Passing Apr 28, 1986
Location of Interment Golden Gate National Cemetery (VA) - San Bruno, California
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) Donald Arthur Baccus (ASN: 0-406504), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action as Pilot of a Fighter Airplane and Commanding Officer of the 356th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action while leading a Fighter Group escorting heavy bombers over Germany, on 26 November 1944. A few minutes after making rendezvous, enemy aircraft were reported in the vicinity and Colonel Baccus, with his Group, set up a vigilant patrol. Observing a large number of fighters preparing to attack, he skillfully positioned his squadrons between the enemy and the bombers. Then, leading a Flight, he launched a daring assault against approximately twenty-five (25) ME-109's. During the ensuing battle, he became separated from the Group but was successful in destroying two (2) enemy fighters before breaking off the attack. Still alone and low on ammunition, he rejoined the bombers, and finding them unescorted, went over the target with them and escorted them back to the coast. The fact that during this action, his Group destroyed twenty-three (23), probably destroyed one (1) and damaged nine (9) aircraft is a tribute to Colonel Baccus' peerless leadership and unsurpassed combat skill.
General Orders: Headquarters, 8th Air Force, General Orders No. 66 (May 8, 1945)
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model North American B-25C Mitchell Length 52.92 ft | 16.13 m Width 67.55 ft | 20.59 m Height 15.75 ft | 4.80 m Engine(s) 2 x Wright Cyclone R-2600-19 air-cooled piston engines delivering 1,700hp each. Empty Weight 20,300 lbs | 9,208 kg MTOW 34,000 lbs | 15,422 kg Max Speed 272 mph | 438 km/h | 237 kts Max Range 1,350 miles | 2,173 km Ceiling 24,196 ft | 7,375 m | 4.6 miles Climb Rate 1,666 ft/min (507.796 m/min) Hardpoints Up to 8 (model dependent) Armament Model-specific armament included:
8 x 12.7mm machine gun array OR 1 x 75mm cannon in forward-fixed nose assembly.
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in forward-fixed lower-left side fuselage position (beneath and behind cockpit position). 2 x 12.7mm machine gun in forward-fixed lower-right side fuselage position (beneath and behind cockpit position). 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in ventral turret (powered turrets in some models). 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in dorsal turret (powered turrets in some models). 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left waist port position. 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right waist port position. 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail gun position (some models removed). 1 x Torpedo in under-fuselage arrangement (model-specific fitting). 8 x 250lb bombs on 8 external hardpoints (model-specific fitting).
Maximum internal bombload of 3,000lbs (1,361 kg). Accommodations 5 Operators the United States of America