Robert E. Femoyer and the Radio Calls That Saved a B-17 Crew

Oct 06 , 2025

Robert E. Femoyer and the Radio Calls That Saved a B-17 Crew

Robert E. Femoyer’s voice cracked through the static, strained but unbroken. Blood soaked his uniform. Every breath was fire in his lungs. Air raid sirens howled. The sky burned with tracer rounds. They needed those coordinates. The crew’s only hope. And he refused to quit.

The Man Behind the Mic

Born March 5, 1921, in Taylor County, West Virginia, Robert E. Femoyer grew on the quiet creed of Appalachian grit and steady Christian faith. A scholar turned scout, he wasn’t just a navigator in the sky—he was a man of conviction who believed every life hinged on truth under fire.

Before the war, Femoyer earned a degree from West Virginia University, a reflection of discipline and clear-eyed purpose. His life was texted with scripture—Firm foundation, unwavering. His solemn oath was not just to his country, but to something greater.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7

To him, that wasn’t just words on a page. It was a battle cry for the soul.

Blood Over France: The Mission That Broke Him

November 2, 1944. Deep in the tumult of World War II’s European air war, Femoyer was a 2nd Lieutenant navigating the B-17 Flying Fortress of the 510th Bombardment Squadron. The target: a critical railroad bridge in Germany.

Enemy flak pounded the sky with unforgiving wrath. A shell tore through his side—the bullet ripped muscle, shattered ribs, and stole oxygen. He collapsed, but his voice didn’t. With every inch of agony, he transmitted vital position updates to the fighter escorts, guiding them back through lethal airspace.

Pain was relentless. Dying on that radio didn’t cross his mind. With a fractured body and fading strength, Femoyer stayed behind the microphone—giving his crew a lifeline.

The plane limped home, intact because of him.

Each call was a testament to iron will: deliberate, precise, unwavering. The time he bought cost him his life—it was not wasted, though. His last effort saved dozens of airmen from death or capture.

Honors Hard-Earned in Blood

For this act of valor, Femoyer was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1945. The official citation etched not just heroism, but a life given for others.

“Despite agonizing pain and the knowledge he was mortally wounded, 2nd Lieutenant Femoyer remained at his radio … he refused aid and continued to send vital information … which enabled the fighter planes to destroy the enemy and the bomber formation to return safely.”

His commanding officer, Colonel Lawrence O’Bryan, said:

“Femoyer’s selfless bravery was the light that carried us home through that hellstorm.”

More than decorations, his story lived in the souls he saved.

The Legacy Written in Sacrifice

Femoyer’s is not just a tale of battlefield grit. It is a reminder that true courage is the choice to stand when the body fails, to lift others when all seems lost.

The microphone he clung to was his sword and shield. His wounded lungs the final prayer.

His sacrifice compels us—veteran and civilian alike—to remember the weight each warrior carries. The scars are more than flesh deep. They are silent sermons of godliness tested in fire.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

Robert E. Femoyer laid down that life without hesitation. And in doing so, he unlocked a timeless truth: courage is not absence of fear, but faith that calls us beyond it.

Every time a vet shoulders the burden of sacrifice, every time a civilian honors that grace, Femoyer’s voice echoes—raw and resolute—in the blood-stained book of warriors.

Stand with him. Remember. Never forget what is bought behind the mic.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History – “Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II” 2. Air Force Historical Research Agency – “The Story of 2nd Lt. Robert E. Femoyer” 3. West Virginia University Archives – “Robert E. Femoyer: A Legacy of Courage”