Lester Schlaich, as the flight engineer and top turret gunner in a B-17, would fly his initial 25 missions between June 28, 1943 and January 11, 1944. His credited missions included four of the biggest mission fiascoes of the Eighth Air Force including: first and second Schweinfurt; Stuttgart, September 6, 1943; and Oschersleben, January 11, 1944. Official recognition came in the form of the Air Medal with three oak-leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on the Second Schweinfurt mission of October 14, 1943 also known as ÔBlack Thursday.Õ His group was given a Distinguished Unit Citation Award for their part on the Oschersleben mission.