| Brigadier General Paul P. Douglas Leading Ace of the 368th Fighter Group |
Paul Douglas left Europe one of the most
decorated Aces. He twice received the
Distinguished Service Cross and was
recommended for the Medal of Honor. He flew
136 combat missions with a total of 337 combat
hours in the P-47. He served as Commanding
Officer of the 395th FS, 396th FS, & 36th FG.
Douglas remained in the Air Force as a pilot,
commanded the 388th FW and flew combat
missions over North Vietnam in the F-105
Thunderchief. Paul Douglas retired a Brigadier
General on 1 Feb 1970 after almost 30 years of
active duty service.
Click here to read official USAF biography
His awards include:
2 Distinguished Service Crosses
3 Silver Stars
2 Legions of Merit
3 Distinguished Flying Crosses
38 Air Medals
2 Purple Hearts
4 Air Force Commendation Medals
Army Commendation Medal
French Croix de Guerre with Etoile de Vermeil
British Distinguished Flying Cross
Belgian Fouragere.
decorated Aces. He twice received the
Distinguished Service Cross and was
recommended for the Medal of Honor. He flew
136 combat missions with a total of 337 combat
hours in the P-47. He served as Commanding
Officer of the 395th FS, 396th FS, & 36th FG.
Douglas remained in the Air Force as a pilot,
commanded the 388th FW and flew combat
missions over North Vietnam in the F-105
Thunderchief. Paul Douglas retired a Brigadier
General on 1 Feb 1970 after almost 30 years of
active duty service.
Click here to read official USAF biography
His awards include:
2 Distinguished Service Crosses
3 Silver Stars
2 Legions of Merit
3 Distinguished Flying Crosses
38 Air Medals
2 Purple Hearts
4 Air Force Commendation Medals
Army Commendation Medal
French Croix de Guerre with Etoile de Vermeil
British Distinguished Flying Cross
Belgian Fouragere.
| 22June44 |
| 23June44 |
| 14March45 |
| 20Oct44 |
| 38 |
DSC Citation
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Paul P.
Douglas, Jr. (0-432187), Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in
the 396th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 20
October 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas was returning to
base as leader of a squadron of fighter aircraft with his supply of gasoline almost exhausted, when a formation of
more than 20 enemy aircraft carrying bombs was observed. Completely disregarding the odds against him, he
ordered all but five of his aircraft to return to base, and with this small number unhesitatingly attacked the enemy
formation with such ferocity that they were forced to jettison their bombs directly over the city of Coblenz and take
evasive action. In the ensuing combat, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas relentlessly pursued the enemy, destroyed
three of his aircraft and damaged a fourth. His own plane was continually under attack and sustained many hits.
He was painfully wounded and his airplane's right wing was set on fire, yet he managed to return to base. The
extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Douglas on this occasion are in
keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force,
and the United States Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 13 (1945)
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Paul P.
Douglas, Jr. (0-432187), Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in
the 396th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 20
October 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas was returning to
base as leader of a squadron of fighter aircraft with his supply of gasoline almost exhausted, when a formation of
more than 20 enemy aircraft carrying bombs was observed. Completely disregarding the odds against him, he
ordered all but five of his aircraft to return to base, and with this small number unhesitatingly attacked the enemy
formation with such ferocity that they were forced to jettison their bombs directly over the city of Coblenz and take
evasive action. In the ensuing combat, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas relentlessly pursued the enemy, destroyed
three of his aircraft and damaged a fourth. His own plane was continually under attack and sustained many hits.
He was painfully wounded and his airplane's right wing was set on fire, yet he managed to return to base. The
extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Douglas on this occasion are in
keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force,
and the United States Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 13 (1945)
DSC Citation
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second
Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Paul P. Douglas, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air
Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as
Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 396th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial
combat against enemy forces on 14 March 1945, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date, for the
second time in less than six months, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas shot down THREE enemy aircraft in a single
engagement. Lieutenant Colonel Douglas' unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States
Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 69 (1945)
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second
Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Paul P. Douglas, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air
Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as
Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 396th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial
combat against enemy forces on 14 March 1945, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date, for the
second time in less than six months, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas shot down THREE enemy aircraft in a single
engagement. Lieutenant Colonel Douglas' unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States
Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 69 (1945)