Howard A. Davis, 0-437919, Major, Air Corps, 721^st Bombardment Squadron (H), 450^th Bombardment Group (H) Army of the United States. For gallantry in action, Major Davis  was the pilot of a B-24 type aircraft which was the lead ship in the Wing formation on a particularly dangerous mission to bomb the ball-bearing plant at Weiner-Neustadt, Austria. This high priority target was successfully bombed by the wing formation and Major Davis' excellent leadership was highly responsible for the terrific amount of damage to the entire enemy plant. As the formation reached Yugoslavia, there was a 9/10 undercast. This made precision landfall difficult and enemy anti-craft guns damaged the aircraft of the Deputy Leader of the formation and he was forced to drop out and return to base. At the same time, an exploding shell shattered the right leg of the tail gunner in Major Davis' plane. Realizing that his Deputy Leader was out of the formation, Major Davis continued to lead the formation to the target. Here again, intense flak was encountered, holing fourteen (14) of our ships, but in spite of this opposition and numerous enemy fighters, Major Davis, with great skill, led the formation directly over the aiming point. After leaving the target, the navigator noticed that not all the bombs dropped out of their ship. Investigation showed that five 100-pound demolition bombs had freed themselves from their shackles and had lodged between the racks and the side of the plane, jamming the rudder and elevator cables. The vanes on the bombs were spinning and Major Davis directed the Bombardier and Navigator to hold the vanes in place and bind them with arming wire. One bomb had already armed itself. This difficulty was temporarily overcome by tying this bomb to the bomb bay with cord so that if the other bombs fell, this one would remain suspended. Realizing the extreme danger that confronted his ship and men, Major Davis gave the crew members the option of bailing out. They refused to do so, however, because of their wounded comrade. Not having any elevator or rudder control, Major Davis steered the ship by the use of throttles alone. Realizing that if the bomb exploded, it would not only destroy his own plane but probably several others flying on his wings, he ordered the formation to proceed without him in order to confine the danger of exploding to his own ship. Major Davis successfully piloted his plane it its home base and via radio, received instructions to tell his crew how to remove the fuses of the bomb. Major Davis then brought his plane to a safe landing in spite of the fact that both tires were punctured by flak. By his exceptional skill under very adverse circumstances, Major Davis successfully led the Wing formation on a devastating mission against an enemy installation of the highest priority. By his extreme calmness and clear thinking in the dire emergency of the live bombs, he successfully saved the lives of his entire crew. He has completed 20 combat missions which compile a total of 87:30 combat flying hours. By his courage, resourcefulness and leadership, Major Davis has reflected great credit upon himself and has upheld the highest tradition of the Armed Forces of the United States. Residence at appointment: 545 Blaine Avenue, Akron, Ohio.