"He piloted a fighter-bomber aircraft
in a series of low-level strafing missions, destroying 14 grounded
enemy aircraft and leading attacks which wrecked 10 others during a
critical period of the Allied drive in northern Italy. On the morning of 24 April, he volunteered to lead 2 other aircraft against the strongly defended enemy airdrome at Ghedi. Ordering his fellow pilots to remain aloft, he skimmed the ground
through a deadly curtain of antiaircraft fire to reconnoiter the field,
locating 8 German aircraft hidden beneath heavy camouflage. He rejoined
his flight, briefed them by radio, and then led them with consummate
skill through the hail of enemy fire in a low-level attack, destroying 5
aircraft, while his flight accounted for 2 others. Returning to his
base, he volunteered to lead 3 other aircraft in reconnaissance of Bergamo
airfield, an enemy base near Ghedi and 1 known to be equally well
defended. Again ordering his flight to remain out of range of
antiaircraft fire, 1st Lt. Knight flew through an exceptionally intense
barrage, which heavily damaged his Thunderbolt, to observe the field at
minimum altitude. He discovered a squadron of enemy aircraft under heavy
camouflage and led his flight to the assault. Returning alone after
this strafing, he made 10 deliberate passes against the field despite
being hit by antiaircraft fire twice more, destroying 6 fully loaded
enemy twin-engine aircraft and 2 fighters. His skillfully led attack
enabled his flight to destroy 4 other twin-engine aircraft and a fighter
plane. He then returned to his base in his seriously damaged plane.
Early the next morning, when he again attacked Bergamo, he sighted an
enemy plane on the runway. Again he led 3 other American pilots in a
blistering low-level sweep through vicious antiaircraft fire that
damaged his plane so severely that it was virtually non-flyable. Three of
the few remaining enemy twin-engine aircraft at that base were
destroyed. Realizing the critical need for aircraft in his unit, he
declined to parachute to safety over friendly territory and
unhesitatingly attempted to return his shattered plane to his home
field. With great skill and strength, he flew homeward until caught by
treacherous air conditions in the Appennines Mountains [sic], where he
crashed and was killed. The gallant action of 1st Lt. Knight eliminated
the German aircraft which were poised to wreak havoc on Allied forces
pressing to establish the first firm bridgehead across the Po River; his
fearless daring and voluntary self-sacrifice averted possible heavy
casualties among ground forces and the resultant slowing on the German
drive culminated in the collapse of enemy resistance in Italy."
From 1Lt. Knight's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on September 24, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian
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