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Show Fairview Pilot ffins Silver Star It. Alden P. Rigby Destroys f'wo German Planes and Aids Comrades Destroy Two More on January 1. 1945 iM EIGHTH AIR FORCE FIGHT-n FIGHT-n STATION. ENGLAND: The Silver Star, for gallantry In action ac-tion against the enemy last Jan. has been awarded to 1st Lt. Alien Al-ien P. K'gby- of Fairview. Utah. The citation accompanying the Silver Star follows: " "For galantry in action against the enemy Jan. 1, 1945. Lt. Rigby, 1 with his squadron, was taxiing t tovn the runway for a take-off , an advanced airbase on the continent when approximately I Kfty enemy fighters at-J at-J ued. Although taken com-nletely com-nletely by surprise and handicapped handi-capped by full fuselage fuel tanks, he engaged and destroyed one FW 190 almost before tie wheels had retracted. When his wnsight ceased to function riiile pursuing another enemy aircraft, he closed in and opened ire at point blank range, observ ing the plane ciasn 111 some "Returning over the airbase, he assisted a fellow pilot in destroying an ME 109 and then expended the last of his ammunition am-munition in shooting down an enemy fighter which was damaged dam-aged and being pursued by two other P51 Mustangs. The fearless fear-less initiative, zealous fighting spirit, and exceptional bravery evinced by Lt. Rigby in attacking such a vastly superior force is in keeping with the highest traditions tradi-tions of the Army Air Forces." Lt. Rigby and the other members mem-bers of his squadron accounted tor a total of 23 German planes that day, and for that feat the I squadron has received a cluster .1 to the Distinguished Unit Cita-1 Cita-1 don. The squadron is the high-1 high-1 est-scoring unit in the high-scoring high-scoring 352nd Fighter Group, which had previously received i DUC. OH LL Rigby, who has since relumed re-lumed to the states, wears, besides be-sides the Silver Star, the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters. Clus-ters. Besides the victories of Jan. 1, he has credit for shooting down i previous -109 and for setting lire to a JU 52 on the ground. He is the husoand of Mrs. Eileen B. Rigby, of 354 W. 2nd St., y Logan, Utah, and the son ol Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Rigby, of of Fairview, Utah. |