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| B-26 pilot Captain Darrell Lindsey earned the Medal of Honor while serving with the 394th Bombardment Group. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16133101/darrell-robins-lindsey http://www.ww2buddies.com/BG394.html |
Darrell Robbins Lindsey never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on December 30, 1919 in Jefferson, Iowa. His parents Jesse and Grace were born in Illinois and Iowa, respectively. His father worked as a drainage engineer and later as a highway maintenance engineer. Darrell had one older brother. By 1940 Darrell was still living at home and had completed two years of college, one year at Buena Vista University and one year at Drake University. He married Evalyn Scott.
He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on January 15, 1942. He reached the rank of captain in the 585th Bombardment Squadron, 394th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, which was equipped with B-26 Marauders. The 394th BG was based out of England and flew close air support missions to assist the American armies advance through Normandy and then across France.
By August 9, 1944 Captain Lindsey had flown 45 combat missions. On that day he was a group leader leading 30 bombers to take out a bridge over the Seine River at L'Isle Adam. It was one of the few bridges over the Seine still standing and thus heavily guarded by German AA units. His plane was heavily damaged as it approached the target with the right wing and engine on fire. Rather than disengage, he recovered the lead position to complete the bomb run and stayed at the controls to allow the rest of his crew to bail out. His plane exploded after the last of his crew mates parachuted out. No remains were recovered.
Captain Lindsey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads as follows:
Capt. Lindsey was fully aware of the fierce resistance that would be encountered. Shortly after reaching enemy territory the formation was buffeted with heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire. By skillful evasive action, Capt. Lindsey was able to elude much of the enemy flak, but just before entering the bombing run his B-26 was peppered with holes.
During the bombing run the enemy fire was even more intense, and Capt. Lindsey's right engine received a direct hit and burst into flames. Despite the fact that his ship was hurled out of formation by the violence of the concussion, Capt. Lindsey brilliantly maneuvered back into the lead position without disrupting the flight. Fully aware that the gasoline tanks might explode at any moment, Capt. Lindsey gallantly elected to continue the perilous bombing run. With fire streaming from his right engine and his right wing half enveloped in flames, he led his formation over the target upon which the bombs were dropped with telling effect.
Immediately after the objective was attacked, Capt. Lindsey gave the order for the crew to parachute from the doomed aircraft. With magnificent coolness and superb piloting, and without regard for his own life, he held the swiftly descending airplane in a steady glide until the members of the crew could jump to safety. With the right wing completely enveloped in flames and an explosion of the gasoline tank imminent, Capt. Lindsey still remained unperturbed. The last man to leave the stricken plane was the bombardier, who offered to lower the wheels so that Capt. Lindsey might escape from the nose. Realizing that this might throw the aircraft into an uncontrollable spin and jeopardize the bombardier's chances to escape, Capt. Lindsey refused the offer. Immediately after the bombardier had bailed out, and before Capt. Lindsey was able to follow, the right gasoline tank exploded. The aircraft sheathed in fire, went into a steep dive and was seen to explode as it crashed.
All who are living today from this plane owe their lives to the fact that Capt. Lindsey remained cool and showed supreme courage in this emergency.
Thank you Captain Lindsey for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Darrell.
Last year on this date I profiled James Tipton, 4th Infantry Division. You can read about James here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
His cenotaph grave is at Jefferson Cemetery in Jefferson, Iowa. His widow remarried and died in 1992.
Last year on this date I profiled James Tipton, 4th Infantry Division. You can read about James here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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