on 11 january 1945, while flying an f-6d mustang on an armed reconnaissance mission over northern luzon in the philippines, captain william a. shomo, the squadron commander at the time, sighted a japanese formation of twelve fighters escorting a bomber. he attacked and succeeded in shooting down the bomber and six of the fighters while his wingman, lieutenant paul lipscomb, shot down three more fighters. shomo was awarded the medal of honor for this action.