John Levitow

     Airmen First Class John Levitow served as loadmaster aboard an AC-47 "Spooky" gunship in the skies over Vietnam. On the night of 24 February 1969, Levitow took off with his crew to support an Army unit under attack. As the aircraft's miniguns rained down a wall of lead around the soldiers, Levitow set 20 second ignition timers on large magnesium parachute flares. He passed them onto a fellow crew member who pulled the pin to start the timer, and heaved the flare out the open side door, illuminating the ground below.

     The pilot of the gunship put the aircraft into a steep bank, turning back across the battlefield. Levitow grabbed another flare, set the timer, and passed it on. Suddenly the aircraft bucked and heaved with a tremendous explosion. Beyond belief, an enemy mortar round falling back to earth struck squarely on the right wing. The explosion blew a hole through the wing, and sent thousands of metal shards ripping through the length of the bird into the crew.

     Levitow was slammed to the deck with 40 pieces of shrapnel in his legs and back. Though stunned and badly wounded, he immediately came to the aid of another Airmen equally stunned and close to falling out of the open side door. As Levitow pulled the crew member away from the door, he saw something more terrifying. The parachute flare he had just handed off, with safety pin removed, was armed and spewing smoke as it counted down its 20 second timer. The flare rolled wildly around across the bottom of the aircraft. Once it ignited, it would burn hot enough to set off the thousands of rounds of ammunition and other flares still on the aircraft, and even burn a hole completely through the deck.

     Ignoring his pain, and overcoming a partially useless leg, Levitow lunged through the noxious gas grabbing at the flare. It bounded and rolled along the floor, slipping through his blood covered hands. Levitow tried to steady himself as the aircraft held its 30 degree bank. He grabbed once more, again failing to capture the flare. Levitow finally dove forward directly on top of the flare and wrapped himself around it. 

     With the flare clutched to his chest, Levitow crawled through the chaos back to the open door. He musted his remaining strength and heaved the flare out the door. Immediately after exiting the aircraft, the flare ignited. 

     The gunship landed safely, despite the massive hole in the wing and over 3500 holes through the fuselage. Though all crew members were wounded by the blast, none were killed. For his quick, selfless actions which saved the lives of the entire crew, John Levitow was awarded the Medal of Honor. He remains the lowest ranking member of the USAF to receive the award. Levitow lived until 2000, passing away at the age of 55.