CAPT. MELVIN C. "CHRIS" PANNELL (Flight Commander, 55th. FS/20th.FG)

Knoxville, Tennessee's Melvin C. "Chris" Pannell was assigned to the 55th.FS/20th.FG on 29 May, 1943 and by May of 1944 he became a Flight Commander. After completing a tour of 301 combat hours on 20 August, 1944 he returned to the States. Pannell was awarded the Air Medal with 3 clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 cluster. A soft-spoken southern gentleman to this day, he is the current President of the 20th.Fighter Group Association. Pannell and his wife Jeannie still make their home in Tennessee.

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