William A. Shomo
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" A. Shomo (May 30, 1918–June 25, 1990) was a United States Army
fighter pilot
during World War II
. He is credited with scoring 8 victories during the conflict. Seven of these occurred during a single mission while flying a reconnaissance version of the P-51 Mustang
. For this action he received the Medal of Honor
.
and then to Morotai
supporting General MacArthur's
drive to the Philippines performing dangerous photo recon and ground attack missions. His squadron was equipped with older P-39 Airacobras and Curtiss P-40
s, which were adequate for the photo recon/ground attack role, but too short-ranged to reach areas where they might encounter Japanese aircraft.
In December 1944, the squadron was given F-6Ds; Mustangs designed for armed photo reconnaissance. On the 24th of that month Shomo was put in command of the squadron and ordered to move it to Mindoro
, an island off the southwest coast of Luzon
, to support MacArthur's landing at Lingayen Gulf
. During that landing on January 9, Shomo led his first combat mission in the squadron's new planes. The low-level recce
was to gather intelligence on the air strength of Japanese in northern Luzon. They approached the Japanese airfield at Tuguegarao where he scored his first air victory, an Aichi D3A "Val"
dive bomber, coming in on its final approach.
and 1 Ki-44 "Tojo"
escorting a G4M "Betty"
bomber.
On their first pass through the formation Shomo closed to less than 40 yards before opening fire. He shot down four Tonys, then came up under the bomber, firing into its belly. The bomber caught fire and began to lose altitude as its pilot attempted to crash-land the plane. Two of the Tonys escorting the bomber stayed with it as it went down. Shomo pulled up in a tight vertical spiral to gain altitude while the Tojo turned to engage him. The Japanese fighter fired until it stalled and slipped into the clouds. The Betty exploded as it bellied in, and the two escorting Tonys broke away, staying low. Shomo made a second diving pass at the two Tonys and downed them both. In under six minutes, Bill Shomo had shot down seven enemy planes, becoming an "ace in one day." Only one other American fighter pilot scored more confirmed victories in a single mission - Navy Cmdr David McCampbell, CAG-15 aboard USS Essex (24 October 1944 9-confirmed victories + 2 probables). Meanwhile, his wingman shot down three of the remaining six planes. The surviving three Japanese planes fled the encounter.
By April 1, 1945, Shomo had been promoted to major
and was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack against heavy odds and destroying seven enemy aircraft. Shomo had been in the undertaker
business before the war. He named all his aircraft "The Flying Undertaker" (plus the appropriate numeral) to note this. The F-6D in which he won his Medal of Honor was "Flying Undertaker 6".
SHOMO, WILLIAM A.
). He directed Combat Operations. at HQ. 31st Air Division, St. Paul, Minn., for about a year, then became commander of the 14th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Sioux City, Iowa He commanded a similar squadron, the 59th, at Goose Bay, Labrador, in January 1955, and that June led the squadron to victory in the Northeast Air Command Rocket Meet. Colonel Shomo next became Commander of Headquarters 473rd Air Defense Group and in July 1957, took over the 54th Fighter Group at Greater Pittsburgh Airport. In January 1958, he became Executive Officer for HQ 79th Fighter Group, Youngstown Municipal Airport, Ohio. His last assignment was Thule, Greenland, with the 4683rd Air Defense Wing. William Shomo is buried in St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg, PA.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He is credited with scoring 8 victories during the conflict. Seven of these occurred during a single mission while flying a reconnaissance version of the P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
. For this action he received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
War activity
For over a year, Shomo was assigned to the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. His unit had moved from airstrip to airstrip along the northern coast of New GuineaNew Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and then to Morotai
Morotai
Morotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
supporting General MacArthur's
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
drive to the Philippines performing dangerous photo recon and ground attack missions. His squadron was equipped with older P-39 Airacobras and Curtiss P-40
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
s, which were adequate for the photo recon/ground attack role, but too short-ranged to reach areas where they might encounter Japanese aircraft.
In December 1944, the squadron was given F-6Ds; Mustangs designed for armed photo reconnaissance. On the 24th of that month Shomo was put in command of the squadron and ordered to move it to Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, an island off the southwest coast of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, to support MacArthur's landing at Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
. During that landing on January 9, Shomo led his first combat mission in the squadron's new planes. The low-level recce
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
was to gather intelligence on the air strength of Japanese in northern Luzon. They approached the Japanese airfield at Tuguegarao where he scored his first air victory, an Aichi D3A "Val"
Aichi D3A
The , Allied reporting name "Val") was a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy . It was the primary dive bomber in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and participated in almost all actions, including Pearl Harbor....
dive bomber, coming in on its final approach.
Medal of Honor action
Two days later on January 11, 1945 Captain Shomo performed the feat that earned him the Medal of Honor. While he and his wingman, Lt. Paul Lipscomb, were heading north for the Japanese airfields at Tuguegarao, Aparri, and Laoag, they saw several enemy planes flying south at about 2,500 feet. Despite being obviously outnumbered, they immediately pulled Immelman turns and found themselves behind 11 Ki-61 "Tonys"Kawasaki Ki-61
The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien was a Japanese World War II fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force...
and 1 Ki-44 "Tojo"
Nakajima Ki-44
The Nakajima Ki-44 Shōki was a single-engine fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. The type first flew in August 1940 and entered service in 1942...
escorting a G4M "Betty"
Mitsubishi G4M
The Mitsubishi G4M 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Isshiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty...
bomber.
On their first pass through the formation Shomo closed to less than 40 yards before opening fire. He shot down four Tonys, then came up under the bomber, firing into its belly. The bomber caught fire and began to lose altitude as its pilot attempted to crash-land the plane. Two of the Tonys escorting the bomber stayed with it as it went down. Shomo pulled up in a tight vertical spiral to gain altitude while the Tojo turned to engage him. The Japanese fighter fired until it stalled and slipped into the clouds. The Betty exploded as it bellied in, and the two escorting Tonys broke away, staying low. Shomo made a second diving pass at the two Tonys and downed them both. In under six minutes, Bill Shomo had shot down seven enemy planes, becoming an "ace in one day." Only one other American fighter pilot scored more confirmed victories in a single mission - Navy Cmdr David McCampbell, CAG-15 aboard USS Essex (24 October 1944 9-confirmed victories + 2 probables). Meanwhile, his wingman shot down three of the remaining six planes. The surviving three Japanese planes fled the encounter.
By April 1, 1945, Shomo had been promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
and was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack against heavy odds and destroying seven enemy aircraft. Shomo had been in the undertaker
Funeral director
A funeral director , also known as a mortician or undertaker, is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as well as the planning and arrangement of the actual funeral ceremony...
business before the war. He named all his aircraft "The Flying Undertaker" (plus the appropriate numeral) to note this. The F-6D in which he won his Medal of Honor was "Flying Undertaker 6".
Medal of Honor citation
SHOMO, WILLIAM A.
Maj. Shomo was lead pilot of a flight of 2 fighter planes charged with an armed photographic and strafing mission against the Aparri and Laoag airdromes. While en route to the objective, he observed an enemy twin engine bomber, protected by 12 fighters, flying about 2,500 feet above him and in the opposite direction Although the odds were 13 to 2, Maj. Shomo immediately ordered an attack. Accompanied by his wingman he closed on the enemy formation in a climbing turn and scored hits on the leading plane of the third element, which exploded in midair. Maj. Shomo then attacked the second element from the left side of the formation and shot another fighter down in flames. When the enemy formed for Counterattack, Maj. Shomo moved to the other side of the formation and hit a third fighter which exploded and fell. Diving below the bomber he put a burst into its underside and it crashed and burned. Pulling up from this pass he encountered a fifth plane firing head on and destroyed it. He next dived upon the first element and shot down the lead plane; then diving to 300 feet in pursuit of another fighter he caught it with his initial burst and it crashed in flames. During this action his wingman had shot down 3 planes, while the 3 remaining enemy fighters had fled into a cloudbank and escaped. Maj. Shomo's extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity in attacking such a far superior force and destroying 7 enemy aircraft in one action is unparalleled in the southwest Pacific area.
Postwar life
Though Shomo flew more than 200 combat missions, he saw only a total of 14 enemy aircraft from his cockpit. He destroyed more than half of them. He would stay with the Air Force after the war. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on February 20, 1951. He then went to Colorado and served in operations and training assignments for a year. In March 1952, he became Executive, Commander and Administrative Officer for the 175th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Rapid City AFB, S.D. (later, Ellsworth AFBEllsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota just north of Box Elder, South Dakota....
). He directed Combat Operations. at HQ. 31st Air Division, St. Paul, Minn., for about a year, then became commander of the 14th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Sioux City, Iowa He commanded a similar squadron, the 59th, at Goose Bay, Labrador, in January 1955, and that June led the squadron to victory in the Northeast Air Command Rocket Meet. Colonel Shomo next became Commander of Headquarters 473rd Air Defense Group and in July 1957, took over the 54th Fighter Group at Greater Pittsburgh Airport. In January 1958, he became Executive Officer for HQ 79th Fighter Group, Youngstown Municipal Airport, Ohio. His last assignment was Thule, Greenland, with the 4683rd Air Defense Wing. William Shomo is buried in St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg, PA.