SHOMO, WILLIAM A. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Corps, 82d Tactical Reconnaissance
Squadron. Place and date: Over Luzon, Philippine Islands, 11 January 1
945. Entered service at: Westmoreland County, Pa. Birth: Jeannette, Pa.
G.O. No.: 25, 7 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Maj. Shomo was
lead pilot of a flight of 2 fighter planes charged with an armed photographic
and strafing mission against the Aparri and Laoag airdromes. While en route
to the objective, he observed an enemy twin engine bomber, protected by
12 fighters, flying about 2,500 feet above him and in the opposite direction
Although the odds were 13 to 2, Maj. Shomo immediately ordered an attack.
Accompanied by his wingman he closed on the enemy formation in a climbing
turn and scored hits on the leading plane of the third element, which exploded
in midair. Maj. Shomo then attacked the second element from the left side
of the formation and shot another fighter down in flames. When the enemy
formed for Counterattack, Maj. Shomo moved to the other side of the formation
and hit a third fighter which exploded and fell. Diving below the bomber
he put a burst into its underside and it crashed and burned. Pulling up
from this pass he encountered a fifth plane firing head on and destroyed
it. He next dived upon the first element and shot down the lead plane;
then diving to 300 feet in pursuit of another fighter he caught it with
his initial burst and it crashed in flames. During this action his wingman
had shot down 3 planes, while the 3 remaining enemy fighters had fled into
a cloudbank and escaped. Maj. Shomo's extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity
in attacking such a far superior force and destroying 7 enemy aircraft
in one action is unparalleled in the southwest Pacific area.
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