World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Enid, Oklahoma, and served as a Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps, 489th Bomber Group. On June 5, 1944, he led a Heavy Bombardment Group, in an attack against defended enemy coastal positions in the vicinity of Wimereaux, France. Approaching the target, his aircraft was hit repeatedly by anti-aircraft fire which crippled the ship, killed the pilot, and wounded Vance. In spite of his injury, he led his formation over the target, bombing it successfully. Gradually losing altitude, on return to the English coast, he ordered the crew to bail out, knowing they would all safely make land. He received a message over the interphone that one of his crewmembers was unable to jump due to injuries, so he made the decision to ditch the ship in the Channel to save his life. As his plane crashed in the water, an explosion occurred which threw him clear of the wreckage. Inflating his life vest, he began searching for the crewmember whom he believed to be aboard. Failing to find anyone, he began swimming and was found later by an Air-Sea Rescue craft. Due to his flying skill and leadership, he completed a successful bombing run and returned his crew to a point where they could bail out to safety. A month later, while being evacuated to the United States, the aircraft on which he was a passenger went down somewhere between Iceland and Newfoundland; no trace of it was ever found. His citation was issued on January 4, 1945.
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Enid, Oklahoma, and served as a Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps, 489th Bomber Group. On June 5, 1944, he led a Heavy Bombardment Group, in an attack against defended enemy coastal positions in the vicinity of Wimereaux, France. Approaching the target, his aircraft was hit repeatedly by anti-aircraft fire which crippled the ship, killed the pilot, and wounded Vance. In spite of his injury, he led his formation over the target, bombing it successfully. Gradually losing altitude, on return to the English coast, he ordered the crew to bail out, knowing they would all safely make land. He received a message over the interphone that one of his crewmembers was unable to jump due to injuries, so he made the decision to ditch the ship in the Channel to save his life. As his plane crashed in the water, an explosion occurred which threw him clear of the wreckage. Inflating his life vest, he began searching for the crewmember whom he believed to be aboard. Failing to find anyone, he began swimming and was found later by an Air-Sea Rescue craft. Due to his flying skill and leadership, he completed a successful bombing run and returned his crew to a point where they could bail out to safety. A month later, while being evacuated to the United States, the aircraft on which he was a passenger went down somewhere between Iceland and Newfoundland; no trace of it was ever found. His citation was issued on January 4, 1945.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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