THANKS FOR THE RESCUE
Lt. Charles I. Leonard, right, thanks T/Sgt. Carl W. Hughes after the latter rescued the officer who had been forced
down in the Burma jungle. Hughes, who was a staff sergeant when this picture was taken, rescued Leonard in a liaison
plane.
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G.I. WINS STAR, STRIPE
HQ., 10TH AIR FORCE, BURMA
- One rescue led to a Silver Star and a second brought promotion to tech sergeant for Carl W. Hughes.
On both occasions, Hughes, piloting a liaison plane, landed in untested, rough terrain to pick up stranded fighter
pilots who had been forced to bail out over the Burma jungle.
In his first rescue, Hughes spotted the grounded flier in a spot inaccessible even to a "jeep" plane he was flying.
By skilful flying, he put down on a clearing atop a 5,000-foot mountain. But he had to take off when the fighter
pilot was unable to reach the top.
Next day Hughes repeated his dangerous landing, and this time the other pilot
was there. Hughes was awarded the Silver Star.
After he had rescued the second pilot in equally dangerous terrain, Hughes was promoted from staff sergeant to tech
sergeant.
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