Date of birth:

April 8th, 1917 (Lebanon, Pensylvania - USA)

Date of death:

July 28th, 2014 (Palmyra, Pennsylvania - USA)

Service number:

0-116793

Nationality:

American

After graduating from Lebanon High School in 1934, George headed westward, following the lead of brother Herb and sister Hilda, and eventually started college in Las Cruzes, NM. Then just before the start of WWII he joined the Navy on May 15, 1941 in Long Beach, California.
George served in the Pacific as a Navy pilot flying off jeep carriers in the Solomon Islands in 1943, where he received the Air Medal Citation Award for "meritorious service in action" against the Japanese.
In the summer and fall of 1944 he flew off the aircraft carrier USS Ben Franklin, going on numerous missions in the Bonin and Mariana Islands, Okinawa, Formosa, and the Philippines.
In late October 1944 George was credited with a direct hit on a Japanese aircraft carrier, which subsequently sank, in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. For this he was awarded the Navy Cross, the highest Naval award outside of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The exploits of George and his fellow crew members of the USS Franklin are chronicled in Joseph Springer's book "Inferno", where the testimonies of George and other heroic men who served on that ship are recorded.
After coming home to Palmyra, George completed his B.S. degree at Lebanon Valley College in 1948 while continuing to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserves.
During the Korean War, George was called up to active duty as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber and Section Leader in Bombing Squadron THIRTEEN (VB-13), attached to the U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13)

Awarded on:

January 4th, 1945

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant George Kreider Bomberger (NSN: 0-116793), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber and Section Leader in Bombing Squadron THIRTEEN (VB-13), attached to the U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Sibuyan Sea during the Air Battle of Leyte Gulf on 25 October 1944. Leading his section in the face of continuous and intense anti-aircraft fire and enemy air opposition, Lieutenant Bomberger scored a direct hit on an enemy aircraft carrier which contributed to its sinking. By his superb flying ability, indomitable fighting spirit and cool courage, maintained at great personal risk, Lieutenant Bomberger contributed immeasurably to the extensive and costly damage inflicted on the Japanese fleet in this vital war area. His conduct throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0768 (January 4, 1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1943

for “meritorious service in action” against the Japanese

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo: TITLE
  - George Bomberger - Recipient -
  
• - Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present, by C. Douglas Sterner - George Kreider Bomberger (1917-2014) - Find A Grave-gedenkplek