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Michael J Novosel
| Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel MOH (deceased) Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1941, Michael Novosel saw combat in the Pacific flying B29s out of Tinian against Japan, and was called up to active service again during the Korean War, eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Again requesting active duty during the Vietnam War, he was informed that the Air Force was over strength in senior officers, so he promptly accepted an appointment as a Warrant Officer Aviator with the US Army. Flying two tours on Hueys in Vietnam as a 'Dustoff Pilot', he was assigned first to the 283rd Medical Detachment, and for his second tour the 82nd where, on 2nd October 1969 in Kien Tuong Province, he saved the lives of 29 wounded soldiers in 15 extremely hazardous extractions under withering enemy fire. For this he was awarded the Medal of Honour. During his tours in Vietnam, he evacuated a total of 5589 wounded soldiers. When he retired in 1985 after 42 years service and 2038 hours combat flight time, he was the last active duty military aviator on flight status who had flown combat during World War II. Sadly, Michael Novosel died 2nd April 2006. |
