Lieutenant Herman Willis “Big Dog” Lewis
Distinguished Flying Cross / Air Medal
Herman Willis Lewis was born in Grady NM to Mr. and Mrs. J H Lewis. After graduation for HS he attended NMAMC for the 38-39 and 39-40 school years studying Agriculture. He then transferred to Highlands University. He left school during his junior year in April of 1941 to enlist in the USAAF. He was selected for training as a pilot which he completed in March 1942. He then married Corriana Farmer of Raton NM. In June 1942 he shipped to the North African theater where he was assigned as B-24 pilot in the 344th Bomb Squadron, 98th Bomb Group. He initially flew as copilot for Col John “Killer” Kane, the 344th BS commander aboard Hail Columbia. When Col Kane assumed command of the 98th BG, Lt Lewis was given the ship which he renamed “Lil Chief Big Dog”. He was not flying that ship however on a mission that departed El Kabrit Egypt the morning of 19 January 1943. Rather he was flying a borrowed aircraft, B- 24D 41-11786 “Alice the Goon” when they were hit by flak over Tripoli harbor. Both wings were hit and the right wing tip completely shot away. Two engines caught fire and Lt Lewis turned to head for Malta, pursued by Me109 fighters. Finally, 47 miles south of Malta, Lewis attempted to ditch the damaged B24.
As it hit the water, the tail broke off, possibly also the right wing, before the aircraft up-ended momentarily and then slipped under the water. His body was never recovered. On January 21, 1943, his daughter, Loretta Jane Lewis, was born in Raton NM, just two days after his death. Today he is memorialized at the North African American Cemetery in Carthage Tunisia. Lt Herman “Big Dog” Lewis was 23 years of age at the time of his death.