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By John L. Frisbee
Neither flak nor flames deterred Capt. Darrell Lindsey from completing the mission and saving the lives of his crew.
In early 1944, the 394th Bombardment Group flew its B-26 Martin Marauders from Kellogg Field, Michigan, to England. They entered combat in March, targeting German defenses and transportation systems in preparation for the D-Day invasion. After June 6, the group continued supporting the Allied advance from the Normandy beachheads.
On August 7, 1944, German forces launched a counteroffensive near Avranches. A critical supply route remained open via the railroad bridge over the Oise River at L'Isle Adam, north of Paris. The bridge was heavily defended by 88-mm anti-aircraft guns. Destroying it would hinder the German advance.
Thirty B-26 bombers from the Ninth Air Force's 394th Bomb Group were sent to destroy the L'Isle Adam bridge. Capt. Darrell Lindsey, just 25 years old, led the formation. Already a veteran of 45 missions and 143 combat hours, Lindsey was known for his skill and composure under fire.
Upon entering enemy territory, the formation encountered intense anti-aircraft fire. Lindsey's plane took a direct hit on the right engine during the bomb run, igniting a fire. Despite this, he held formation to complete the bombing. After "bombs away," Lindsey ordered his crew to bail out.
Remaining at the controls to stabilize the burning B-26, Lindsey made sure his crew had a chance to escape. He refused the bombardier's offer to lower the landing gear, fearing it would destabilize the aircraft. The crew survived. Lindsey did not. The fuel tank finally exploded before he could escape, sending the plane into a fatal dive.
For actions between August 7 - 9, the 394th received a Distinguished Unit Citation. Capt. Lindsey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the only Martin B-26 Marauder crewman to receive the award in WWII. His Medal of Honor citation concluded: "All who are living today from this plane owe their lives to the fact that Captain Lindsey remained cool and showed supreme courage in this emergency."
Capt. Lindsey put his crew's safety above his own life, exemplifying the highest traditions of the American military. His Medal of Honor and related memorabilia are preserved at the Greene County Historical Society, 219 E. Lincolnway St., Jefferson, IA 50129-2205.
Lindsey 5: Lindsey's widow Evalyn at the entrance to Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden, Germany. The station was named for Darrell R. Lindsey and has since been closed.
Lindsey 1: A picture from Fort Dodge High School, 1938
Lindsey 4: Appears to have been a photograph taken while he was in pilot training.
Strike photo of the Lisel-Adam bridge taken on August 9, 1944. It was Lindsey's last mission and the one for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
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