- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- 2nd Lieutenant
- Unit:
- 330th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces
- Awarded on:
- 1945
"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Co-Pilot of a B-29 Very Heavy Bomber in the 330th Bombardment Group (VH), TWENTIETH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 1 June 1945, against enemy targets in Japan. On that date, Second Lieutenant Woliver's B-29 Aircraft was flying from a base in the Marianas on a daylight strike against the industrial city of Osaka, Japan. The formation was attacked viciously by fighters and anti-aircraft fire and just before bombs away the aircraft was hit by what probably was a barrage of heavy flak. The left side of the nose was blown away, killing the pilot instantly, shattering the left arm of copilot Second Lieutenant Woliver and blinding his left eye. The aircraft commander's instrument panel was destroyed, and the copilot's panel was left with only a magnetic compass and the needle and ball. The left control column was snapped off a foot above the floor, the flight engineer's panel and the radio knocked out, and the hydraulic system ruptured. The plane immediately went into a spiraling dive from 20,000 feet before the dazed copilot recovered his faculties enough to pull out with his good right arm at an estimated 10,000 feet. There was undetermined damage to the flight controls, leaving the B-29 in a nose-down attitude. Keeping the nose up required heavy back pressure on the control column. The B-29 now was over water, headed toward China. Bomb bay doors could not be opened to jettison the bomb load. Nearing the friendly field at Iwo Jima, Lieutenant Woliver knew he could not land the airplane in his weakened condition, with partial sight, no instruments, and no brakes. He ordered the crew to bail out over the island. Woliver himself was too weak to get out of his seat and leave through the nose wheel well. Lieutenant Logerot, bombardier, though suffering from flash burns, stayed with the damaged plane, got Woliver out the wheel well, and was the last to leave the plane. By his great courage and determination, despite his pain and wounds, Lieutenant Woliver stayed at his post despite grave wounds and saved the lives of his crew. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Woliver on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 20th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces."
Office of Department Commander, Twentieth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 17
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
