Lieutenant Colonel William A. Shomo
P-39 Airacobra, F-6 Mustang pilot and ace earned the Medal of Honor

Background
William Arthur Shomo was born May 30, 1918 to parents George Washington Shomo and Bertha May (née Uncapher) Shomo in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. William Shomo attended the Cincinnati College of Embalming and the Pittsburgh School of Embalming between 1937 and 1940, and then he worked as a mortician for a short time before enlisting in the military.

Wartime History
On August 18, 1941 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet with serial number 13037968. After completing flight school he earned his wings and on March 7, 1942 was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-439677. On October 18, 1943 promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant then overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

During November 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (71st TRG), 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (82nd TRS) "The Strafin' Saints" as a pilot flying the P-39 Airacobra on photographic reconnaissance missions from Dobodura Airfield then moved to Saidor Airfield and Tadji Airfield flying mission s over Japanese targets on the northern coast of New Guinea. By December 1943, he had 808 hours 15 minutes of first pilot time for a total of 1,050 hours and 25 minutes.

During the middle of June 1944 the squadron began operating from Borokoe Airfield on Biak.

On September 2, 1944 took off from Borokoe Airfield on Biak piloting a P-40 Warhawk leading a flight of P-39Q 44-3569 (MIA), P-39Q 42-20357 (MIA) and P-39Q 42-20353 on an armed reconnaissance mission. Due to bad weather, the mission was aborted all three Airacobras went missing only Shomo returning as the sole survivor.

On September 22 1944 promoted to the rank of Captain. On October 1, 1944 the squadron moved to Morotai Airfield and began transitioning to the F-6D Mustang, the photographic reconnaissance version of P-51D Mustang. On December 24, 1944 Shomo became the Commanding Officer (C.O.) of the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (82nd TRS) "The Strafin' Saints". On December 29, 1944 began operating from Hill Airfield on Mindoro in the Philippines.

On January 10, 1944 took off from Hill Field (Hammer) flying an F-6D Mustang serial number unknown on a mission. He claimed a D3A Val, his first aerial victory claim over the Cagayan River, south of Tuguegarao.

On January 11, 1945 took off from Hill Field (Hammer) piloting F-6D "Snooks 5th" 44-14841 with wingman F-6 44-14873 pilot Lt. Paul Lipscomb on an armed photographic and strafing mission mission over northern Luzon including Tuguegarao Airfield, Aparri Airfield, and Laoag Airfield. From below, the pair spotted a formation of enemy planes flying south at about 2,500' roughly a mile south of Tuguegarao Airfield.

Despite being outnumbered, they immediately pulled Immelmann turns and found themselves behind 11 Ki-61 Tonys and 1 Ki-44 Tojo escorting a G4M Betty. Closing and making a climbing turn and fired on the lead plane in the third element causing it to explode. Next, Shomo attacked the second element from the left side and shot another fighter in flames. Afterwards, attacked a third fighter causing it to explode and fall out of formation then attacked the G4M Betty causing it to crash and burn, pulled up and made a head on pass and claimed it as destroyed. Afterwards, dove on a first element and destroyed another fighter, dove down another 300' and fired on another fighter causing it to crash in flames. Meanwhile, wingman Lt. Paul Lipscomb also claimed three other planes shot down with the three remaining enemy fighters fleeing into the clouds and escaping. In total, Shomo claimed seven aerial victories. For his actions, Shomo would later earn the Medal of Honor.

On January 14, 1945 promoted to the rank of Major. On April 3, 1945 he was bestowed the Medal Of Honor by Major General Ennis Whitehead at a ceremony at Lingayen Airfield. He remained with the squadron until May 25, 1945.

Aerial Victory Claims
Shomo was officially credited with eight aerial victories. On January 10, 1945 he claimed his first aerial victory. On January 11, 1945 he claimed seven aerial victories, in a single combat and became an "ace" and later earned the Medal of Honor.

Victory	Date	Location	Aircraft	Notes on claim
1	01/10/45	South of Tuguegarao	D3A Val	First aerial victory claim.
2	01/11/45	South of Tuguegarao	Ki-61 Tony	Second aerial victory claim (lead plane, third element exploded midair).
3	01/11/45	South of Tuguegarao	Ki-61 Tony	Third aerial victory claim (second element, shot down in flames).
4	01/11/45	South of Tuguegarao	Ki-61 Tony	Fourth aerial victory claim (exploded and fell in flames).
5	01/11/45	South of Tuguegarao	G4M Betty	Fifth aerial victory claim became an "ace" (hit underside, crashed and burn).
6	01/11/45	South of Tuguegarao	Ki-61 Tony	Sixth aerial victory claim (destroyed during head on pass).
7	01/11/45	South of Tuguegarao	Ki-61 Tony	Seventh aerial victory claim (first element lead plane shot down).
8	01/11/45	South of Tuguegarao	Ki-61 Tony	Eighth aerial victory claim (hit with burst causing it to crash in flames).

Assigned Aircraft
Shomo was assigned six planes, all nicknamed "Snooks" with a ordinal number for each subsequent plane (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th).

P-39Q "Snooks" 42-20351  assigned to Shomo. On May 21, 1944 MIA piloted by Harrison over Awar Point.
P-39Q "Snooks 2nd" 42-19995  assigned to Shomo. Abandoned Tadji Airfield today Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Serviceman's Park.
P-40N "Snooks 3rd" Squadron Number 66  assigned to Shomo, fate unknown.
P-40N "Snooks 4th" Squadron Number 66 assigned to Shomo, fate unknown.
F-6D "Snooks 5th" 44-14841  assigned to Shomo flown January 11, 1945 crashed March 5, 1945 piloted by 2nd Lt Robert S. Huffman.
F-6D "The Flying Undertaker - Snooks 6th" 44-72505  assigned to Shomo operated from Binmaley Airfield.

Medal of Honor
For his actions on January 11, 1945, Shomo would later earn the Medal of Honor. On April 3, 1945 he was bestowed the Medal Of Honor by Major General Enis Whitehead at a ceremony at Lingayen Airfield. He also earned the DFC (DFC), Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Medal of Honor (January 11, 1945) Citation: "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major (Air Corps) William Arthur Shomo (ASN: 0-439677), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-51 Fighter Pilot with the 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Reconnaissance Group, 308th Bombardment Wing, FIFTH Air Force, in an aerial flight over Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 8 January 1945. Major Shomo led a flight often F-6Ds and six P-40s on a reconnaissance sweep of the Carmen, Lingayen, Resales and Baguio airstrips, with the further purpose of seeking out and destroying Japanese rolling stock, equipment, and personnel in the Luzon central plains area. An American landing was to be made at Lingayen Gulf the following morning and it was important that Japanese reinforcements from the south be prevented from strengthening enemy positions in the Lingayen area. Flying at minimum altitude and exposed to enemy anti-aircraft fire and small arms automatic weapons fire, he led his flight on strafing attacks which destroyed one large oil tank, 19 trucks, one sedan, one locomotive, one bomber and three single engine aircraft, four boxcars, three freight and three artillery pieces with horses and accompanying troops, and killed many Japanese out of a detachment of 200 that hid in the ditches along the road. Severely damaged were one truck, sixteen freight cars, and two sedans. In addition to hampering enemy operations in that area, he returned with intelligence information of great value to the ground forces. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by Major Shomo during this flight are in keeping with the highest tradition of the United States Air Forces."

Postwar
During October 1945 sent home to the United States. On May 18, 1946 released from active duty. Back home, he joined the Pennsylvania State National Guard. On June 19, 1947 returned to active duty. On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) assigned to Headquarters, Strategic Air Command at Andrews AFB. Next, attended Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell AFB for two years then held many assignments including Deputy Director of Operations at Selfridge AFB. On February 20, 1951 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In September 1968 retired from active duty.

Memorials
Shomo passed away on June 25, 1990 at age 72. He is buried in Greensburg, PA at section D, lot 134.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William A. Shomo
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Shomo, William A. page 172 (PDF page 179), Alphabetical list by theater of operation (SWP) Shomo, William A.: 01/10/45 1/11/45 (seven) page 364 (PDF page 370)
Air Force Historical Support Division - Shomo -- Maj William A. Shomo (photo)
Congressional Medal of Honor Society - William Arthur Shomo
Hall of Valor - William Arthur Shomo (full MOH citation)
FindAGrave - Maj William Arthur Shomo (photo, grave photo)