Lindsey, Darrell Robins

Martin B-26 Marauder

Date of birth:: December 30th, 1919 (Jefferson/Iowa, United States)
Date of death:: August 9th, 1944 (l'Ile d'Adam, France)
Mentioned on:: Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial
Nationality:: American

Biography

Service number: 17042483.

Darrell Lindsey was born in Jefferson, Iowa as son of Jesse Lyle and Grave Alice Lindsey. After his education on the Buena Vista University from 1937 until 1941, he enlisted to the Air Corps as Aviation Cadet in Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on 16th January 1942. He received his basic training at Visalia. Lemoore and Victorville, all in California. In August 1942 he graduated and was commissioned as second Lieutenant. He received a bombardier training at Kirtland Field in New Mexico.

In 1943 he was assigned to the 314th Bomb Squadron with base at MacDill Field in Florida. Here he was promoted to first Lieutenant. In September 1943 he was assigned to the 585th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bomb Group, flying the B-26 Marauder and stationed on Kellogg Field in Michigan. In December 1943 he was promoted to Captain and assigned as flight commander. With this unit he went in February 1944 to Europe.

On 9th August 1944, he flew on a mission as group leader. The mission was to destroy a bridge over the river Seine at L’Isle Adam, near Paris. During the bomb run, Lindsey’s plane was damaged badly, but he managed to lead the run. During the run he ordered his crew to bail out. Before he could himself leave the plane, it exploded. Lindsey was reported missing in action, presumed killed. It was Lindsey’s 46th combat mission.

His name was added on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Ardennes Monument in Neupré, Belgium on the American War Cemetery Ardennes.

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Medal of Honor - Army (MoH)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Captain
Unit:: 585th Bombardment Squadron, 394th Bombardment Group, U.S. Army Air Forces
Awarded on:: May 30th, 1945

"On 9 August 1944, Capt. Lindsey led a formation of 30 B-26 medium bombers in a hazardous mission to destroy the strategic enemy held L'lsle Adam railroad bridge over the Seine in occupied France. With most of the bridges over the Seine destroyed, the heavily fortified L'Isle Adam bridge was of inestimable value to the enemy in moving troops, supplies, and equipment to Paris. 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 pilotage, 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."

Awarded posthumously

Air Medal (AM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)