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Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 98th ,
Bombardment Group. Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 9 July 1944.
Entered service at: Boulder, Colo. Birth: Longmont, Colo. G.O. No.: 48,
23 June 1945. Citation: He took part in a highly effective attack against
vital oil installation in Ploesti, Rumania, on 9 July 1944. Just after
"bombs away," the plane received heavy and direct hits from antiaircraft
fire. One crewmember was instantly killed and 6 others severely wounded.
The airplane was badly damaged, 2 were knocked out, the control cables
cut, the oxygen system on fire, and the bomb bay flooded with gas and hydraulic
fluid. Regaining control of his crippled plane, 1st Lt. Pucket turned its
direction over to the copilot. He calmed the crew, administered first aid,
and surveyed the damage. Finding the bomb bay doors jammed, he used the
hand crank to open them to allow the gas to escape. He jettisoned all guns
and equipment but the plane continued to lose altitude rapidly. Realizing
that it would be impossible to reach friendly territory he ordered the
crew to abandon ship. Three of the crew, uncontrollable from fright or
shock, would not leave. 1st Lt. Pucket urged the others to jump. Ignoring
their entreaties to follow, he refused to abandon the 3 hysterical men
and was last seen fighting to regain control of the plane. A few moments
later the flaming bomber crashed on a mountainside. 1st Lt. Pucket, unhesitatingly
and with supreme sacrifice, gave his life in his courageous attempt to
save the lives of 3 others.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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