George McCrumby

Lt. George T. McCrumby's dramatic tale of herosim and luck drew attention back in the United States. McCrumby of Forth Worth, Texas, graduated from flight training on Jan. 14, 1943, at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama. He deployed to North Africa with the 99th Fighter Squadron in April; the squadron flew its first combat mission on June 2. The 99th Fighter Squadron moved to Italy in July, and remained in that country fo the rest of the war. In late January 1944, 37,000 Allied troops launched an amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy, about 35 miles south of Rome. Although they established a beachhead by nightfall, they could not break out of the city. On Jan. 23, Luftwaffe aircraft attacked the Allied positions and two hospital ships in the harbor. Eight fighter squadrons, including the 99th, took on the task of repelling enemy air raids. On Jan. 27, McCrumby and 15 other pilots from the 99th Fighter Squadron spotted a group of German fighters attacking Allied ships. The 99th attacked: When the smoke cleare