Good morning CK..

Is there a way you could confirm for me at all if Kenneth hailed from the state of Vermont.? If so, we could possibly get this question of yours potentially fulfilled...

Hope all is well CK,

 - Dea

Yes he was from Vermont!

Thank you for your help and for offering to assist so many in preserving this history.

Excellent! Okay, here is what you could possibly do. I am going to add here for you his DFC and AM cards. If you still so choose to, you could email/contact any of the DFC/Medal Recipient sites, and if so needed, (if they will not just accept his information, name, rank, unit, state of res, serv# and so on upon good faith), you could always then ask them if they would accept a digital copy of the DFC/AM cards I am going to give you here, as proof that your request is 100% valid and verifiable.

Some of these agencies/entities that you are referring to can be a bit fickle, depending on whom receives the email, message etc, as many of us have learned over the years. Others are absolutely wonderful to work with. In a way, it can sometimes be just a luck of the draw, if some of these sites do not get back to you. (the professional ones will), then do not take it personal by any means. If you need any form of help, support or otherwise, please by all means, let me know, and the reserves will be called in...!

PS  I am also going to add in a second post for you within the hour, a few newspaper articles about him, especially with one article specifically stating his awardment of the DFC, AM, and OLC's, as this article can be potentially used for further verification and validation purposes.

- Dea

Defendress, Thank you doesn’t adequately express my appreciation for what you’ve been able to find. This is a real treasure the likes of which is rarely found in this life. My grandfather never really spoke about specifics of his service or his missions. Although he did often speak highly of the other crew and the airplanes he served in and later flew. Of course there’s always an interest in more information; but what you’ve been able to find, and so quickly, is so very much appreciated. I’ll take your advice and use this to petition those lists to have him added. If there’s anything more or any more detail you could give about units he served with I’d be very grateful. All of my accolades to you as a researcher and archivist! You are doing your country and your countrymen a great service by helping to keep this history alive! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

The honor is all   mine CK...

https://306bg.us/awards%20&%20decorations/general_orders/21jun43_8thbc_go72.pdf

CK,

Stand on the link that I added above, found his Air Medal awardment citation per G.O #72, on 21 Jun, 1943 as is stated upon the AM card, top line.

If I find anything else my friend, you know I will add it faster than in 2 shakes of a lamb's tail.

Hope all is well ..

 Dea

P.S  CK, his name is listed on Pg 4 of the Air Medal citation.

Dea, Words can’t describe the appreciation I have for your hard work and effort on behalf of myself and my family. The articles and documents you’ve found have really filled in some gaps and straightened out the understanding of what my grandfather was doing and how it shaped him and his life.

Really outstanding to see the general orders to award the air medals. I figured that document probably didn’t exist anymore.

I’vs managed to make contact with the son of one of my grandfather’s former crew , Lt. or Capt. Donald F. Thwaites who I believe was the navigator on my grandfather’s crew. I’m hoping to meet with him very soon. It would be quite something to show him what you’ve already found.

If you come across anything on him let me know as I’m sure his son would be very interested to see it.

What you’ve done for me, my family and for all these other families is really very special. You’re preserving history and keeping the memory of these brave men alive!

Ok,  I am not sure what they are doing over at History hub, as your thread here has been moved to the Army/Air Force section for whatever reason ...rather than the "Seeking Official List  of WWII Distinguished Cross Recipients: where you had originally added your post.

But in any case, I found informaton on a Donald Thwaites, but with an "H" in lieu of an F, as there were no names on record of a Don F Thwaites that was in the AAF during WWII.... This is the pilot's info I have acquired thus far for you and him; Don H Thwaites hailed from and enlisted in Washington, he was a Captain at one point in his career of either a group or squadron, was born in 1918, and sadly passed in 2005. If you are able to speak to your friend and see if any of that info matches up, then upon your confirmation, I will add the couple bits of info I was able to acquire thus far... hope all is well CK, and that you do get to see this ..!

Happy days.!

 - Dea