Armour Conway Miller USAAC   Captain Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal w/6 Oak Leaf Clusters   Son of Mr. & Mrs. Azro H. Miller, Brookbound, Claverack, NY He attended Hudson, N.Y., High School and The Ramford School, Connecticut where he graduated in 1935 Attending Cornell Univ. in 1940 majoring in Hotel Management He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Instructed at Shaw Field, South Carolina Arrived overseas to the Mediterranean Theater in August 1943 Flew P-38s with the 94th & 27th FS (Fighter Squadron[s]) Of the 1st FG (Fighter Group) Part of the 15th AF (Air Force) in North Africa and Italy

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Gets 6th Nazi Plane And DFC

Lt. Armour C. Miller Receives Award For “Extraordinary Achievement In Aerial Flight.”

(Special To The Registry) 15 AAF In Italy, 18 July 1944 – First Lieutenant Armour C. Miller, 22 year old AAF P-38 fighter pilot from Brookbound, Claverack, New York, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for “Extraordinary achievement in aerial flight.”
Lieutenant Miller is an outstanding P-38 fighter pilot in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with six enemy fighters to his credit during aerial combat over targets in Germany, Austria and the Balkans. He has often led an entire group of P-38’s escorting the heavy bombers of the 15th Air Force, and on the recent P-38 fighter bombing mission to Ploesti oil fields, he led the group of P-38’s which provided top cover for the fighter bombers. On this mission, his group destroyed twenty-four enemy aircraft in a forty-five minute dog fight and then on return, strafed an airfield, destroying four German transport aircraft on the ground.
The act performed by Lieutenant Miller to win his high honor occurred on April 23 1944 when he led a squadron of P-38’s escorting heavy bombers to attack an enemy airdrome in Austria.
The citation reads in part, ”In fierce encounters lasting for close upon an hour, Lieutenant Miller skillfully directed his squadron in routing two large formations of enemy fighters which made repeated and aggressive attacks upon rear elements and straggling bombers. Three times Lieutenant Miller led his squadron back into the target area to assist an isolated flight of friendly fighters twice more he turned back to cover straggling bombers, withdrawing from the flak-infested area. Moreover, his radio malfunctioning, Lieutenant Miller exercised brilliant improvisation as a leader in maintaining his squadron intact by the ingenious employment of visual signals. Only after all friendly aircraft had safely withdrawn did Lieutenant Miller lead his squadron back to base without the loss of a single plane or pilot. By his outstanding professional skill, courage and leadership, as demonstrated throughout forty-two successful combat missions against the enemy, as well as his record of six enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat, Lieutenant Miller has reflected great credit upon himself and the Allied Forces of the United States of America.”
Lieutenant Miller arrived overseas in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in August 1943 following a short tour of duty in the United States where he was an instructor at Shaw Field, South Carolina. His first missions were flying patrol over the invasion forces at Salerno and later fighter bombing and strafing enemy troop concentrations in the area.
On recent missions, he has participated in long escort missions with heavy bombers during the recent aerial offensive against German fighter production. His first victory occurred on an escort mission to Toulon, France, on March 11, 1944, when he destroyed a German ME109 fighter. Since then he has destroyed 5 more enemy fighters including an Italian Macchi 205 and Reggiane 2001, and the vaunted FW190 German fighter. His last victory was a German ME210 twin engine fighter which was firing rocket bombs at heavy bombers over Vienna on June 16, 1944.
Lieutenant Miller is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Azro H. Miller, Brookbound, Claverack, New York and attended Hudson, N.Y., High School and later the Ramford School, Connecticut where he graduated in 1935. Attending Cornell University in 1940 majoring in Hotel Management, he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. In addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Lieutenant Miller has been awarded the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters.

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Amour Miller with his P-38 "Jinx" - Looks like we have another candidate for best cap

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Distinguished Flying Cross

15 September 1944 — Armour C. Miller, P- 38 fighter pilot in the Mediterranean Area, has received the Distinguished Flying Cross and recently been promoted to Captain. He was decorated for leading a squadron of P-38's escorting heavy bombers to attack an enemy airdrome in Austria, April 23. The citation reads in part, "In fierce encounters lasting for close upon an hour, Lieutenant Miller skillfully directed his squadron in routing two large formations of enemy fighters which made repeated and aggressive attacks upon rear elements and straggling bombers. Three times Lieutenant Miller led his squadron back into the target area to assist an isolated flight of friendly fighters and twice more he turned back to cover straggling bombers, withdrawing from the flak-infested area. Moreover, his radio malfunctioning, Lieutenant Miller exercised brilliant improvisation as a leader in maintaining his squadron intact through one hour of aerial combat by the ingenious employment of visual signals. Only after all friendly aircraft had safely withdrawn did Lieutenant Miller lead his squadron back to base without the loss of a single plane or pilot." Overseas in the Fifteenth Army Air Force since August, 1943, Captain Miller has carried out forty-two successful combat missions and has shot down six enemy aircraft in aerial combat. His home is in Claverack.

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Silver Star

1 October 1944 — Captain Armour C. Miller of Claverack, P-38 fighter pilot in the Fifteenth Army Air Force in Italy, was presented the Silver Star for gallantry displayed while leading his squadron as escort for another P-38 group assigned to bomb the Ploesti oil installations in Roumania, June 10. Having successfully broken up ground and air opposition for the bomber formation, he led strafing attacks upon a railroad junction and an airdrome, inflicting serious damage on the enemy. When his ammunition gave out he remained in battle, demonstrating unusual skill and courage. "In particular," the citation reads, "he deliberately turned into a hostile fighter menacing a crippled comrade, drawing the fire upon himself and skillfully out maneuvering the enemy." Captain Miller also has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters. He is a member of the oldest fighter group in the Army Air Corps. It received a blue distinguished unit citation on July 31 for participating in the first mass long range low-level strafing attack ever carried out, an attack upon the Foggia airfields in Italy, August 30, 1943.

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Victories Include :

6 / 0 / 2

* Or MC202. Date could be 12 May.

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Thanks go out to

Son Nick for the photos & infos !

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