AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation:  1.) The Distinguished Flying Cross as a nose gunner of a B-24 aircraft flying a combat mission to a vital oil refinery at Odertal, Germany on 17 December 1944. Severe and adverse weather conditions were encountered enroute until the formation had passed over the Alps and approached the Vienna area. Evading heavy flak concentrations, the formation proceeded directly to the target area. Still some forty minutes from the objective, the fighter escort turned back. A target escort was to join the formation just a few minutes further on. Before that meeting could be effected, the formation was attacked by more than one hundred and thirty enemy single engine fighters, the largest assault force thrown against our operations in four months. The entire attack was apparently coordinated by ground control, alert to the gap in our fighter protection against this particular objective. The enemy's forces were well dispersed along the entire route in, with reserves continually thrown into the attack. In waves of three and six abreast, they came in with almost suicidal aggressiveness, attacking from all angles but mainly from five and seven o'clock. In a desperate attempt to disrupt or destroy the formation, the enemy dove, reformed and dove in renewed attacks. Sergeant Carney, though under attack from a formation of six enemy planes, remained calmly at his guns and continued to pour a stream of fire into the assaulting planes. In spite of the fact that his position received a direct hit from enemy fire, he nevertheless remained at his station and because of his gallant determination in the face of great odds, he succeeded in helping to destroy two Me-109's and aiding in the destruction of several others. The target is defended by an extremely heavy concentration of enemy gunfire. In the face of intense barrages of anti-aircraft fire, the aircraft made a perfect bombing run and dropped its entire bomb load in the immediate target area, inflicting grave damage to this vital enemy installation. The fact that this aircraft reached the target, bombed successfully and returned to base, was due in great part to Sergeant Carney's unswerving devotion to duty and professional skill. James F. Carney is a member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.