404th Fighter Group Decorations Ceremony, St. Trond, Belgium, October 12, 1944
Left: Major General Hoyt S Vandenberg, US Ninth Air Force commander. (Later, USAF Chief of
Staff)
Center: 2d Lt. John W. Wainwright
Right: Colonel Carroll "Red" McColpin, 404 Ih Fighter Group commander, a former
RAF Eagle squadron commander and a fighter ace with eight confirmed victories. (Later,
Major General, USAF) Col. McColpin had led the September 28, 1944 mission.
Note: At the October ceremony Wainwright was presented with the Air Medal. General
Vandenberg had recommended the Lt. For the Distinguished Service Cross for his six
victories on September 28, 1944 but the DSC was not awarded until January 8, 1945.
Wainwright was killed in an aircraft accident in Germany on July 7, 1945.
Photograph courtesy of General McColpin