Glen Dale Schiltz, Jr.
Major, U.S. Air Force

On 17 August 1943, then-First Lieutenant Glen Dale Schiltz, Jr. was serving as Pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Plane in the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, 1LT Schiltz’s unit was in aerial combat against German forces in the European Theater of Operations when he shot down three German aircraft in a single engagement. 1LT Schiltz’s flying skills, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Schiltz was promoted to Captain on 6 February 1944. He returned to the United States as a World War II Ace with 200 combat hours, 8 enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat and 3 damaged.

Korean War

Captain Schiltz transferred to the new U.S. Air Force in 1947. On 6 October 1950, Capt Schiltz was the pilot of a F-51D Mustang night fighter [SN 44-73504] with the 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group in Korea during the Korean War. While on a combat mission on that date, his plane received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and exploded one-half west of Pyongyang, North Korea. Capt Schiltz was promoted to Major on 1 September 1951, during the time he was MIA.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Bronze Stars
Purple Heart
Air Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Air Force Senior Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Glenn D. Schiltz, Jr., First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56 Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 17 August 1943, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Lieutenant Schiltz shot down three enemy aircraft in a single engagement. First Lieutenant Schiltz's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 73 (1943).

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal [see photo] to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. Major Glen Dale Schiltz, Jr. was one of them, having been credited with 8 aircraft shot down in aerial combat and 3 damaged. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Burial

Major Glen Dale Schiltz, Jr. is buried at North Canton Cemetery in North Canton, Stark County, OH.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59423305/glen-dale-schiltz