Lt. Gus "Gory" Allen from San Angelo, Texas joined the 354th FG in February 1944. On May 14,1944 he would receive his silver Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Medal. On the night of June 5,1944 Lt. Allen would take part in missions flown by the 354th in support of the allied invasion on June 6th"D-Day". That night he would fly the #3 position in "White" group and provide fighter escort for C-47's and gliders that would be landing before dawn behind enemy lines. There would be 15 miles of gliders and C-47's making their way to their landing zones to the south of the Bay of Seine and the Utah beachhead. On the 6th of June he would escort more C-47's and gliders to the Utah beachhead. At the end of the month on the 30th of June he would receive the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In July Lt. Allen recieved his 9,10,11th Oak Leaf Clusters.
On December 10th Lt. Allen would fly a mission in the afternoon with my father Lt. Lamar on a bombing and straffing mission to Bingen flying in their P-47's. At the end of December he would have his 13,14,and 15th OLC's.
Lt. Allen would become Capt. Allen in February of 1945 and receive a cluster to his DFC. He continued to fly throughout the rest of 1945 with the Pioneer Mustang Group.
