Us Official Photographs

Lt Martin and B24 Liberator

1st Lt. Lester C. Martin wears the Distinguished Flying Cross as he stands beside the Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Briney Marlin". Escorted by a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Lt. Martin brought his plane safely back to its base with seven feet of the wing (right) and aileron broken off and folded under following a collision with another bomber during assembly of a formation over the North Sea. Lt. Martin was cited for superior skill and courage in recovering his aircraft from a spin after the wing had been broken and left hanging, returning to base without further damage or injury to plane or crew. 458th Bomb Group, England.