John L. Jerstad

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Maj. John L. Jerstad United States Army Air Corps
January 5, 1907(1907-01-05) – August 1, 1943 (aged 37)

Nickname	Killer
Place of birth	Racine, Wisconsin
Place of death	Ploesti, Romania
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Air Corps
Years of service	1941 - 1943
Rank	Major
Unit	98th Bombardment Group
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Major John Louis Jerstad, United States Army Air Forces, was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military award, the Medal of Honor during World War II for his actions as a B-24 pilot during the raid on Ploieşti, Romania on August 1, 1943. Jerstad-Agerholm Elementary School and Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School in Racine, Wisconsin are both partially named after John Louis Jerstad.

1 Life
2 Military Life
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References

[edit] Life

During Operation Tidal Wave, the most highly decorated military mission in U.S. history, 179 B-24s took off on an 18-hour, 2,400 mile round trip mission to destroy the largest of the Nazi-held oil refineries at Ploesti, 30 miles north of Bucharest, Romania. This day, Aug. 1, 1943, would end with five U.S. Air Force airmen, including Maj. John L. Jerstad, earning the Medal of Honor for bravery; three, including Jerstad, posthumously. Sixty aircraft were lost on the mission.

Jerstad enlisted as an aviation cadet at Milwaukee, Wisc., on July 12, 1941. He trained at Ontario, Calif., and Luke Field, Ariz. He was commissioned Feb. 6, 1942 and served with the 98th and 93rd Bomb Groups at Barksdale Field, La. In October 1942, he went to Europe with the 93rd and flew B-24s with the 328th Bomb Squadron, as a captain. He was promoted to major in April 1943, and was assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing headquarters a month later.

By August 1943, he had completed more than his tour of missions and was no longer directly connected with the 93rd Bomb Group. When he heard of the upcoming low level bombing mission against the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, he volunteered to lead a formation.

Three miles from the target, Jerstad's bomber was badly damaged by enemy ground fire and set on fire. More than 230 antiaircraft guns, supported by many barrage balloons and smoke pots, surrounded the refineries, with more than 400 fighters in the area. Ignoring the fact he was flying above a field suitable for a forced landing, he kept on course. After the bombs were released on the target, the fire in his ship became so intense that it made further progress impossible. The B-24 crashed into the target area, killing all on board.

By his voluntary acceptance of a mission he knew was extremely hazardous, Jerstad was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously on Oct. 28, 1943.

(Taken from U.S. Air Force Biography)^[1]

[edit] Military Life

He was picked by Colonel Edward L. Timberlake, former commander of The Traveling Circus to be Timberlake's chief operations officer.

His Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. On August 1, 1943, he served as pilot of the lead aircraft in his group in a daring low-level attack against enemy oil refineries and installations at Ploesti, Rumania. Although he had completed more than his share of missions and was no longer connected with this group, so high was his conception of duty that he volunteered to lead the formation in the correct belief that his participation would contribute materially to success in this attack. Major Jerstad led the formation into attack with full realization of the extreme hazards involved and despite withering fire from heavy and light antiaircraft guns. Three miles from the target his airplane was hit, badly damaged, and set on fire. Ignoring the fact that he was flying over a field suitable for a forced landing, he kept on the course. After the bombs of his aircraft were released on the target, the fire in his ship became so intense as to make further progress impossible and he crashed into the target area. By his voluntary acceptance of a mission he knew was extremely hazardous, and his assumption of an intrepid course of action at the risk of life over and above the call of duty, Major Jerstad set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces.