Donald D. Pucket

Stayed with a burning bomber to save three crewmen

Donald Dale Pucket earned a posthumous Medal of Honor during a bombing attack on the oil installations at Ploesti, Romania, on 9 July 1944. A first lieutenant with the 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, he refused to abandon three crewmen who could not leave their stricken aircraft.

Pucket was born in Longmont, Colorado, on 19 December 1915. His award was accredited to Boulder. He served in Army aviation during the Second World War.

After antiaircraft fire severely damaged the bomber, Pucket regained control, treated wounded men and worked to reduce the danger from leaking fuel. As the aircraft continued losing altitude, he ordered the crew to bail out. Three men remained aboard, unable to jump. Pucket stayed with them and attempted to regain control until the bomber crashed. He died that day.

His widow received the Medal of Honor in Boulder on 12 August 1945. Pucket's remains are included in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis, Missouri. His citation recognizes the decision to remain with men who still needed help.

Medal of Honor citation

He took part in a highly effective attack against vital oil installations in Ploesti on 9 July 1944. Just after "bombs away," the plane received heavy and direct hits from antiaircraft fire. One crewmember was instantly killed and six others severely wounded. The airplane was badly damaged, two were knocked out, the controls cables cut, the oxygen system on fire, and the bomb bay flooded with gas and hydraulic fluid. Regaining control of his crippled plane, 1st Lt. Pucket turned its direction over to the copilot. He calmed the crew, administered first aid, and surveyed the damage. Finding the bomb bay doors jammed, he used the hand crank to open them to allow the gas to escape. He jettisoned all guns and equipment but the plane continued to lose altitude rapidly. Realizing that it would be impossible to reach friendly territory he ordered the crew to abandon ship. Three of the crew, uncontrollable from fright or shock, would not leave. First Lt. Pucket urged the others to jump. Ignoring their entreaties to follow, he refused to abandon the three hysterical men and was last seen fighting to regain control of the plane. A few moments later the flaming bomber crashed on a mountainside. First Lt. Pucket, unhesitatingly and with supreme sacrifice, gave his life in his courageous attempt to save the lives of three others.