William Metzger enlisted at Toledo, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1942, and served at Camp Perry, Ohio, and Camp Young, Calif., with ordnance battalions before becoming an aviation cadet in March 1943. He trained at Santa Ana, Calif., Twentynine Palms and Lancaster, Calif, and Douglas, Ariz., getting his wings and appointment as a Flight Officer in March 1944.
He served at Kingman Air Field, Ariz., and Rapid City Air Base, S.D. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 1944 and two months later went to England for B-17 copilot duties with the 8th Air Force’s 452nd Bomb Group. His plane was shot up and some of the crew members injured on Nov. 9 during a bombing run on the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken, Germany.
Lieutenant Metzger and the pilot, First Lt. Donald J. Gott, elected to try to get the bomber and the injured men back to base after completing the bomb run in the face of intense fire. For this heroic action, in which both men lost their lives, Lieutenant Metzger was awarded the Medal of Honor, as was Lieutenant Gott.
The citation for Metzger reads, in part: “…Something had to be done to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. Lieutenant Metzger and his pilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash-land. With only one normally functioning engine and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again, and then disintegrated. All three crew members who remained on board were instantly killed. Lieutenant Metzger’s loyalty to the crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country were an example of valor at its highest.”
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken, Germany, on 9 November 1944, a B17 aircraft on which 2d Lt. Metzger was serving as copilot was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the aircraft’s engines were damaged beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the No. 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire roared therein which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from damaged hydraulic lines. The interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator’s arm was severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the application of a tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent explosion of his aircraft and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away on the target, 2d Lt. Metzger and his pilot conferred. Something had to be done immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. 2d Lt. Metzger and his pilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded along to Allied-controlled territory. When that had been reached 2d Lt. Metzger personally informed all crewmembers to bail out upon the suggestion of the pilot. 2d Lt. Metzger chose to remain with the pilot for the crash landing in order to assist him in this emergency. With only 1 normally functioning engine and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again, and then disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 2d Lt. Metzger’s loyalty to his crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at its highest.
William Metzger enlisted at Toledo, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1942, and served at Camp Perry, Ohio, and Camp Young, Calif., with ordnance battalions before becoming an aviation cadet in March 1943. He trained at Santa Ana, Calif., Twentynine Palms and Lancaster, Calif, and Douglas, Ariz., getting his wings and appointment as a Flight Officer in March 1944.
He served at Kingman Air Field, Ariz., and Rapid City Air Base, S.D. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 1944 and two months later went to England for B-17 copilot duties with the 8th Air Force’s 452nd Bomb Group. His plane was shot up and some of the crew members injured on Nov. 9 during a bombing run on the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken, Germany.
Lieutenant Metzger and the pilot, First Lt. Donald J. Gott, elected to try to get the bomber and the injured men back to base after completing the bomb run in the face of intense fire. For this heroic action, in which both men lost their lives, Lieutenant Metzger was awarded the Medal of Honor, as was Lieutenant Gott.
The citation for Metzger reads, in part: “…Something had to be done to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. Lieutenant Metzger and his pilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash-land. With only one normally functioning engine and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again, and then disintegrated. All three crew members who remained on board were instantly killed. Lieutenant Metzger’s loyalty to the crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country were an example of valor at its highest.”
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrucken, Germany, on 9 November 1944, a B17 aircraft on which 2d Lt. Metzger was serving as copilot was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the aircraft’s engines were damaged beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the No. 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire roared therein which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from damaged hydraulic lines. The interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator’s arm was severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the application of a tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent explosion of his aircraft and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away on the target, 2d Lt. Metzger and his pilot conferred. Something had to be done immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. 2d Lt. Metzger and his pilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded along to Allied-controlled territory. When that had been reached 2d Lt. Metzger personally informed all crewmembers to bail out upon the suggestion of the pilot. 2d Lt. Metzger chose to remain with the pilot for the crash landing in order to assist him in this emergency. With only 1 normally functioning engine and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again, and then disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 2d Lt. Metzger’s loyalty to his crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at its highest.
