Finding that two crewmen were too badly injured to bail out, Lawley chose to remain in the aircraft and, despite his own serious wounds, attempt to pilot it into friendly territory.

He returned to the United States in September 1944, serving as a public relations officer at Hendricks Army Airfield in Florida.

[2] He went to HQ United States Air Force in the Pentagon as administrative assistant to Maj. Gen. David Schlatter in a special weapons assignment, with promotion to major in August 1949.

[2] In February 1950, he held special assignments to the commanding general of Air Research and Development Command, completing the Navy Language School at Fort Myer, Virginia, and the Strategic Intelligence School in Washington, D.C. After being promoted to lieutenant colonel, he served as an assistant air attaché to Brazil, serving until 1954.

In January 1963, he became Assistant Phase Chief Director of Curricular at the Air War College at Maxwell AFB.

[4][5] Lawley's official Medal of Honor citation reads:[6] For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty, 20 February 1944, while serving as pilot of a B-17 aircraft on a heavy bombardment mission over enemy-occupied continental Europe.

1st Lt. Lawley remained at his post, refusing first aid until he collapsed from sheer exhaustion caused by loss of blood, shock, and the energy he had expended in keeping control of his plane.