Official records of the 389th Bomb Group reveal that several dozen groundmen from its bomb squadrons and attached units transferred to combat duty. A ground-bound draftee named Earl Garrigus earned his wings and joined Nally’s crew for several missions. Garrigus later achieved qualification as a flight engineer, rising to the rank of T/Sgt, and earned credit for 20 missions with several pilots. On April 22, 1944 Garrigus was seriously wounded in action when Luftwaffe intruders followed the formation back to England after dark and attacked his ship as it was landing. He returned to duty six weeks later, but was wounded again on his first foray back into combat June 5th. The stubborn Garrigus got back in the saddle in July, determined to complete his tour. And he did just that, fl ying his 30th mission on August 25, 1944 and adding a Distinguished Flying Cross to his two Purple Hearts and Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.

Official records of the 389th Bomb Group reveal that several dozen groundmen from its bomb squadrons and attached units transferred to combat duty. A ground-bound draftee named Earl Garrigus earned his wings and joined Nally’s crew for several missions. Garrigus later achieved qualification as a flight engineer, rising to the rank of T/Sgt, and earned credit for 20 missions with several pilots. On April 22, 1944 Garrigus was seriously wounded in action when Luftwaffe intruders followed the formation back to England after dark and attacked his ship as it was landing. He returned to duty six weeks later, but was wounded again on his first foray back into combat June 5th. The stubborn Garrigus got back in the saddle in July, determined to complete his tour. And he did just that, fl ying his 30th mission on August 25, 1944 and adding a Distinguished Flying Cross to his two Purple Hearts and Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.