SUBJECTS >> OPERATIONS >> World War II
AIRCRAFT >> BOMBERS >> B-25
Catalog Number:
1975.059
Location:
MC832
Description:
Medal Of Honor, Ralph Cheli, Born San Francisco, California, 29 October 1919, Led His B-25 Squadron Against A Heavily Defended Airdrome Near Wewak, New Guinea, 18 August 1943. Intercepting Enemy Aircraft Set His Plane A Flame While Two Miles From The Objective. He Could Have Parachuted To Safety But This Would Have Disorganized His Formation And Exposed It To The Enemy. Although A Crash Was Inevitable He Elected To Continue The Attack In His Blazing Plane. From A Minimum Altitude, The Squadron Made A Devastating Bombing And Strafing Attack On The Target. The Mission Completed, Major Cheli Then Crashed Into The Sea And Was Captured By The Japanese. He Died On 6 March 1944 When His Prison Ship, Enroute To Japan,Was Sunk.