Vincent Cole Myers, Sr.
Major, U.S. Army Air Forces

Vincent Cole Myers was born in Caddo, County, OK, the son of James H. & Lena Fisher Myers. He was the husband of Frances and the father of Vincent Cole Myers, Jr. (1946-1966).

He was a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion.

Myers entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Oklahoma City, OK, on 19 December 1941. Vincent had completed 2 years of college and was still single at the time of his enlistment. Upon completion of his training as a bombardier and navigator, he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the USAAF and was assigned to the 488th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 340th Bombardment Group, Twelfth Air Force, which utilized the North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber. The 340th served in combat from April 1943 to April 1945 and engaged chiefly in support and interdictory missions, but sometimes bombed strategic objectives. Targets included airfields, railroads, bridges, road junctions, supply depots, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, marshaling yards, and factories in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, France, Austria, Bulgaria, Albania, Yugoslavia, and Greece.

Vincent became the 340th Bombardment Group's Lead Bombardier Officer, which attests to his skills as a bombardier and navigator.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster *
American Theater Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Navigator Badge
Bombardier Badge

* Distinguished Flying Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Vincent Myers, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Bombardier of a B-25 type aircraft of the 340th Bombardment Group (Medium), TWELFTH Air Force. On 24 April 1944, Captain Myers flew as group bombardier in an attack upon the heavily defended railroad bridge at Orvieto, North Italy. Upon the commencement of the bomb run, direct hits from intense anti-aircraft fire critically wounded the turret gunner and heavily damaged his airplane. Despite the extreme difficulty of maintaining the crippled aircraft on straight and level course, Captain Myers skillfully directed his pilot on a precision bomb run, enabling his formation to cover the objective with a devastating bomb pattern. When mechanical failure prevented the lowering of the landing gear upon the approach to base, Captain Myers assisted other members of the crew in working the emergency release system thereby enabling his pilot to land the stricken bomber safely. On forty-five combat missions his steadfast devotion to duty and outstanding proficiency have reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

General Orders: Headquarters, 12th Air Force, General Orders No. 85 (June 28, 1944)

Action Date: April 24, 1944
Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Captain
Regiment: 340th Bombardment Group (M)
Division: 12th Air Force

Burial

Vincent Cole Myers, Sr. died on 4 August 1979. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery, Apache, Caddo County, OK.

This Honoree Record was prepared with the valuable assistance of Lanny G. Asepermy, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Ret.) [Honoree Record ID 227117], Historian for the Comanche Indian Veterans Association in Lawton, OK. Photo is courtesy of SMG Asepermy and the Comanche Nation Museum.