The most decorated combat flight in U. S. history didn’t take place in a major battle. It was a photo-reconnaissance flight; the flight of ‘old 666′ in June of 1943.
The story of the most honored photograph in U.S. history begins with Jay Zeamer, an unlikely hero. Despite graduating from MIT and joining the Army Air Corps, Zeamer struggled to qualify as a pilot and was known for falling asleep during missions. However, everything changed when he volunteered for a dangerous photoreconnaissance mission.
Zeamer assembled a crew of misfits nicknamed “The Eager Beavers” and rehabilitated a beat-up B-17 bomber dubbed “Old 666.” The crew modified their plane extensively, adding extra machine guns, and became known for taking on missions no one else wanted.
In June 1943, they volunteered for what was considered a near-suicide mission: photographing Japanese bases on Bougainville Island and Buka airfield. During the mission, they were attacked by over 20 enemy fighters. Despite severe damage to the plane and multiple crew injuries, they maintained steady flight to complete their photography mission.
The most heroic moment came when bombardier Joseph Sarnovski, who was days away from going home and didn’t need to be on the mission, continued firing at enemy planes even after receiving a mortal wound. The battle lasted 40 minutes, with the crew shooting down several enemy fighters.
Captain Zeamer piloted the plane while severely wounded until he lost consciousness. The plane was eventually flown home by Sergeant Able, a gunner who had only learned about flying by watching the pilots, while the wounded Zeamer gave instructions from the floor.
The mission resulted in invaluable reconnaissance photos and became the most decorated combat flight in U.S. history. Zeamer and Sarnovski both received the Congressional Medal of Honor—the only time in World War II that two men from one plane received America’s highest military honor. The rest of the crew received Distinguished Service Crosses.
Jay Zeamer recovered from his wounds after a year in hospitals and lived to be 88 years old. The mission stands as a testament to how ordinary people can rise to extraordinary heights when faced with extreme challenges.
Reference Sites: Petapixel | HistoryNet.COM
