Floyd Byerly
1st Lt. Floyd R Byerly was assigned to the 301st BG 32nd Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Pilot.
When crews finished combat training at Dyersburg AAF, they returned to Lincoln, Nebraska where they were assigned a new plane, straight from the factory with only three or four hours of time recorded. They were instructed to go aloft the next morning and calibrate the instruments. It was basically a job for the navigator to accomplish, but the pilots had to follow certain orders from him. Expected time to complete the job was less than four hours.
One of the planes returned much later than the others. Story was, a member of Lt. Cristy's crew came from Kansas and they flew there, buzzed his home, and returned to Lincoln. The story also indicated that they flew so low they ran into scores of grasshoppers which were splattered all over the plane.
Below is the note that was supposedly dropped by Floyd on the family farm in north-western Kansas. They buzzed the farm and then came back and dropped the notes.
Below is a copy of the note
1st Lt. Floyd R Byerly
Front Row L to R: Jay W. Cristy - Pilot; Floyd R. Byerly - Co-pilot; Carl Bass - Nav.; Joseph F. Gehring - Bomb. Back Row L to R: Coit W. Yancey; Harrison E. Mulford - Gunner; James E. Gormley - Eng. ; Victor V. Plendl - Radio; LeRoy T. Kephart - Ball Turret
Lt. Floyd R Byerly at home
The following information on Floyd Byerly is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on 1st Lt. Byerly. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to Floyd Byerly's military record please contact us.
| Date | Order | Award | Ribbon & Device | Document Originator | Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01/02/1945 |
General Order (GO)* : 31 |
AM Air Medal |
|
Issuing Authority: 15th Air Force |
Current Rank: F/O |
|
03/17/1945 |
General Order (GO)* : 1484 |
AM/1OLC Air Medal Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster |
|
Issuing Authority: 15th Air Force |
Current Rank: F/O |
|
04/24/1945 |
General Order (GO)* : 2711 |
AM/2OLC Air Medal Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster |
|
Issuing Authority: 15th Air Force |
Current Rank: 2nd Lt |
|
* Documents are of the type/classification of "General Order" for most award documents. The listed documents are GO, General Order unless otherwise stated. For example. Special Orders.
The Issuing Authority is the Command and author of the document.
3/17/1945 General Orders 1484 AM/OLC
Note to Family dropped from B-17 PDF
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