Danbury Pilot of Thunderbolt Plane Given Air Medal
An Eighth Air Force Fighter Station, England—Second Lt. Byron J. Fisher, fighter pilot of Danbury, Ia., has been awarded the air medal for “exceptional achievement in aerial flight over enemy-occupied continental Europe.”
Lt. Fisher is flying combat with the 56th fighter group, highest scoring fighter outfit in Eighth air force. Commanded by Lt. Col. Lucian A. Dade, jr., of Hopkinsville, Ky., his P-47 Thunderbolt group has destroyed 832 German planes—666 in the air and 166 on the ground.
A former student at Iowa State college in Ames, he was employed as an assembler by the Lockheed Aircraft corporation of Burbank, Cal., prior to his enlistment in the air forces September 10, 1942. He received the silver wings of a pilot upon completing advanced flight training at Moore field, Tex.
Lt. Fisher is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy J. Fisher, of Danbury.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, February 20, 1945 (photo included)
Lt. Byron Fisher of Danbury Killed in Plane Accident
Danbury, Ia. — Special: Mr. and Mrs. Guy Fisher have been notified by telegraph from the War Department of the death of their son, Lt. Bryon Fisher, in a plane accident over England. Lt Fisher was a member the Eighth air force stationed in England. He served as a pilot of the 56th fighter group which destroyed more German planes than any other group in the Eighth air force. Lt. Fisher’s group began combat operations April 13, 1943, and destroyed 723 enemy aircraft, 561 in aerial combat and 162 or more on the ground. In one day the Thunderbolts bagged 30 German planes.
Lt. Fisher just recently received the air medal for “exceptional achievement over enemy occupied continental Europe.” He was 25 and received his silver wings at Moore field, Tex. Previous to entering the service, he was employed by Lockheed Aircraft corporation at Burbank, Cal. He was a former student at Iowa State College at Ames.
Source: Sioux City Journal, Sunday, March 11, 1945 Page 26
Byron J. Fisher was born Nov. 19, 1920 to Guy F. and Ida W. Cook Fisher. He died Feb. 18, 1945 and is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Mapleton, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
