June 16 Old 666 Medals of Honor

Jay Zeamer and Joseph Sarnoksi earned the Medal of Honor on this day and the rest of their B-17 crew, Old 666, earned the Distinguished Service Cross, when they flew straight and level for 22 minutes to map Bouganville, in preparation for the planned invasion later that year. The Americans were attacked by over 50 Japanese Zeros, and Sarnoksi was killed in the mission, while Zeamer, the plane commander, was horribly wounded. The mapping mission was a success, saving American lives in the later invasion, and the mission is the most decorated in American history. Honor and remember the crew of Old 666!