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The American Campaign Medal was established by Executive Order 9265 on November 6, 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was awarded to any member of the United States armed servies with 30 consecutive day of service in the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946. This medal was presented to Tech Sgt. Bernard Mechanic.

Tech. Sgt. Bernard Mechanic served as a gunner/radio operator with the 376th Bomb Group 9th Air Force that flew Consolodate B-24s. He was a very early member of this group that operated out of North Africa in 1943. Sgt. Mechanic wore this jacket during Operation Tidal Wave on August 1, 1943. This raid on the Ploesti oil refineries is one of the most famous and daring individual bombing raids conducted by heavy bombers during the war. The plan called 177 B-24s flying at dangerously low altitudes of 300 to 500 feet to evade German radar. Normal bombing operations averaged 20,000 to 25,000 feet. Due to navigation and pilot error as well as alert German aerial defenses, the plan quickly fell apart. The raid suffered devastating loses 53 aircraft were shot down, 440 crewmembers were killed and 220 take as prisoners of war. Sgt. Mechanic was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery during this mission.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Type AWARDS-Medals & Ribbons Physical Description American Campaign Medal; Obverse: relief of Consolidated B-24, battleship, submarine, and factory depicted, embossed text "AMERICAN CAMPAIGN"; Reverse: relief of an eagle depicted, embossed dates "1941-1945"; light blue ribbon with white, black, and red stripes. Dimensions 3-D (Overall): 7.3 × 3.7 × 0.6cm (2 7/8 × 1 7/16 × 1/4 in.)
 Materials Copper Alloy
Silk
Non-Magnetic White Metal
 Inventory Number A20181353000 Credit Line Gift of Mark L. Machanic, Nephew Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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