MN WWII hero honored with Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously

Published October 8, 2016 9:39pm CDT

One of the military's highest honors is posthumously bestowed on a hero from Minnesota.

The family of Capt. Andrew Kaye received a Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

In July 1945 Capt. Kaye took part in a 17 hour aerial mission over Japan flying a B-29 Superfortress. Despite losing an engine, Capt. Kaye helped make sure they completed their bombing mission. He also outmaneuvered Japanese planes on the return leg despite being out of ammo.

“I'm sure it would make him happy, but the bigger thing from what I remember him saying is that he was glad to get out of the war alive and call it a day,” Capt. Kaye’s son Dan said.

Capt. Kaye passed away in 2006. The Distinguished Flying Cross is the oldest aviation award in the country.