Five So. Jersey Men in 8th AAF Honored
Camden Courier-Post
DFC Awarded to Dead Laurel Springs Pilot and Camden Gunner
Decorations for five South Jersey men for outstanding service with Eighth AAF commands in England have been announced in official releases.
Included in the awards is a Distinguished Flying Cross for Staff Sgt. Walter Pickup, of 477 Randolph street, waist gunner aboard the Fortress “The Flagship,” first American bomber to hit Berlin. A similar award has been ordered posthumously for Lieut. William W. Cotter, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Cotter, of 331 Walker avenue, Laurel Springs, who was killed recently in line of duty. He had served on 50 combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Others to win honors are Lieut. William G. Leewer, whose address is listed as 423 North Fortieth street, Pennsylvania; Lieut. James E. Wilkinson, Jr., 26, whose parents live at Wenonah, and Tech. Sgt. Harold C. Silverman, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Silverman, of 296 White Horse pike, Berlin. Each of the three received Oak Leaf Clusters to Air Medals.
Sergeant Pickup, who previously had won the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters, is the son of James Pickup, of 45 Chestnut street, Haddonfield. His wife, Cara, lives at the Randolph street address.
Lieutenant Cotter was a fighter pilot and was cited for the “skillful and zealous manner in which he sought out the enemy and engaged in combat.”