How ironic that his story had to be confirmed by the German Luftwaffe archives before he was awarded his DSC ...... Mr. Drew is one of only two men to receive the Air Force Cross for actions performed during World War II. The recommendation for the Distinguished Service Cross was turned down because of insufficient confirmation. The gun camera had jammed and 2LT Robert McCandliss, the Number 2 man, had been shot down by flak and became a Prisoner of War until the end of hostilities. Thirty-nine years later, the total story was confirmed by both the German Luftwaffe archives and the American Air Force archives. The Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records recommended that Mr. Drew and his wife were flown in an Air Force C-141 from Johannesburg, South Africa for the ceremony. The honorable Verne Orr, Secretary of the Air Force, presented the medal on May 12, 1983. www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org - U.S.A.A.F. Resource Center - USAAF Legends - Urban L. "Ben" Drew Urban "Ben" Drew by Ernie Boyette
