1st Lt. Donald J. Gott Memorial Highway

A 12-mile stretch of 2-lane rural road, along U.S. Highway 60 / Oklahoma State Highway 51, was designated a memorial highway in 2007, in memory of 1st Lieutenant Donald J. Gott. He died at age 21, in 1944, during World War II (WWII). First Lieutenant Donald Joseph Gott served as a B-17 “Flying Fortress” heavy bomber pilot overseas in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater during World War II. He was assigned to the 729th Bombardment Squadron, 452nd Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, and based at Royal Air Force (RAF) Deopham Green, Norfolk, England. His squadron began combat operations on February 5, 1944, with an area of operations that included Germany and occupied Europe. He participated in the Air Offensive, Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland campaigns. The squadron served primarily as a daylight strategic bombing organization, attacking targets in Germany, including: railway marshalling yards at Frankfurt, aircraft assembly plants at Regensburg, aircraft component factories at Kassel, ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt, a synthetic rubber plant at Hannover, airfields, and the German industrial system, including oil refineries and storage facilities. In addition to strategic missions, his unit supported ground forces and flew interdictory missions. The squadron supported the invasion of Normandy, France by hitting airfields, V-weapon (i.e. guided missile, Buzz Bomb) sites, bridges, and other objectives, and struck coast defense positions on D-Day (June 6, 1944). The 729th bombed enemy positions in France to support the breakthrough at St Lo, in July, 1944, and offensive operations against Brest in August-September, 1944. The squadron also supported the airborne attack on Holland (Operation Market-Garden) in September, 1944. During a bombing mission against the marshalling yards at Saarbrücken, Germany on November 9, 1944, his plane, nicknamed “Lady Jeannette,” was severely damaged by antiaircraft fire and several of the crew wounded by enemy fire. Three of the aircraft's engines were damaged beyond control and on fire, and fires raged inside the plane. The radio operator was severely wounded, unconscious, and needed immediate medical aid. The best option for the entire crew seemed to be to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. After dropping their bomb load on the target, they turned for friendly lines. When the aircraft reached friendly airspace in France, Lt. Gott and his co-pilot stayed at the controls and ordered the crew to bail out. The seriously injured radioman was unable and remained with the airplane, while the other crewman exited the aircraft. Gott and his co-pilot attempted a crash landing near Hattonville, France with only one functioning engine, but the aircraft exploded before touching down, killing the three on board. 1st Lt. Gott's conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, his personal loyalty to his crew, determination to finish the mission, and return all crewmembers to safety, in the face of overwhelming odds, resulted in him being posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on May 16, 1945. He was also awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 bronze service stars (4 campaigns), and WWII Victory Medal. A memorial to the “Lady Jeannette” B-17 Bomber and its crew was placed near Hattonville, France and the site of the crash, to commemorate their service and sacrifice in liberating France and defeating the Axis powers.