FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Darrell Robins Lindsey ~ May 21, 2012

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Darrell Robins Lindsey

Info from here.

           

Darrell Robins Lindsey (December 30, 1919–August 9, 1944) was a bomber pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Lindsey was born in Jefferson, Iowa, to Jesse Lyle and Grace Alice Lindsey. After graduating from high school in Fort Dodge in 1938, he attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake for one year before transferring to Drake University in Des Moines. He enlisted as an aviation cadet at Fort Des Moines on January 16, 1942. He trained at Visalia, Lemoore and Victorville Fields in California, receiving his pilot's wings and commission as a second lieutenant in August 1942.

Lindsey was also trained as a bombardier at Kirtland Field, New Mexico, and in 1943 was assigned to the 314th Bomb Squadron at MacDill Field, Florida, with the rank of first lieutenant. He was transferred to Kellogg Field, Michigan, in September 1943, and assigned to the 585th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bomb Group (Medium), a B-26 Marauder outfit. Promoted to captain in December, he was assigned as a flight commander.

As part of the Ninth Air Force the 394th Bomb Group was deployed to RAF Boreham, England, on March 11, 1944, and immediately participated in the bombing of bridges, airfields and the rail system in France in preparation for the cross-channel invasion. On D-Day, the group attacked gun positions in Cherbourg, then continued to support Allied ground units in Normandy by attacking German lines of communication. In late July, the group changed bases to RAF Holmsley South in preparation for a move to the continent, and on August 7, 1944, began a three-day campaign against rail and bridge targets in the Ile-de-France region of northern France for which the group as a whole received a Distinguished Unit Citation.

On August 9, Captain Lindsey, a veteran of 45 combat missions, flew as group leader to destroy the railroad bridge over the Seine River at L'Isle Adam northwest of Paris. The bridge, one of the last over the Seine still standing, was heavily defended by German anti-aircraft units.

Leading a formation of 30 aircraft, Lindsey's B-26 was heavily damaged and both the right engine and wing set afire during the bombing run. Although knocked out of formation, Lindsey recovered his place and led the group over the target, then stabilized the aircraft so that his crew could parachute. According to the crew's bombardier, Lindsey severely lessened his own chance to escape to prevent the aircraft from spinning, which proved fatal when a fuel tank exploded just after the last crewman exitted the aircraft. Captain Lindsey's body was not recovered and he was listed as missing-in-action and presumed killed.

On May 30, 1945, Lindsey was awarded the Medal of Honor, accepted by his widow, Evalyn Scott Lindsey Rhinehart (1919–1992) during an August 9, 1945, ceremony at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Dodge. In November 1946, Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany, was named in his memory and served as the location of the Headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe. The station closed in 1993 and a red granite monument there was returned to Jefferson, Iowa, and placed on the lawn of the Greene County Courthouse, where it was dedicated to Lindsey on June 12, 1993.

On the following day at Lindsey's alma mater, Buena Vista University, another memorial was dedicated to Lindsey and Ralph Neppel, also a recipient of the Medal of Honor who had attended Buena Vista. The memorial was donated by Judge Charles Pendleton, a BVU alumnus. Judge Pendleton had earlier made a donation in the memory of Evalyn Rhinehart, who had recently died (August 17, 1992) in a motor vehicle accident, and the wife of a fellow alumnus, Dr. Bruce L. Rhinehart (1922–2010). Pendleton learned that she had been the widow of Darrell Lindsey, and that Lindsey's monument was being returned from Germany. Together, Pendleton and Rhinehart also began the Lindsey-Neppel Scholarship at Buena Vista in 1993.

Medal of Honor Citation:

On August 9, 1944, Capt. Lindsey led a formation of 30 B-26 medium bombers in a hazardous mission to destroy the strategic enemy held L'Isle 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 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.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP

SSgt Thomas K Fogarty, USA
3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment,
4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division

Amazing Grace

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS!

Tattoo
(Click)

Must retire – the 0500 Reveille approaches relentlessly – the bugler already mounts the parapet. Will chat with you all on the morrow.

Good night, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe – especially those in harm’s way – by virtue of their service and sacrifice we continue to live in Freedom!

Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Dave...and a deserved salute.

Hope you’ve had a good weekend. ((HUGS))

[luvie]

Best description of a hero....putting others’ safety first. God rest his soul!

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha again Night Owl! ((HUGS))

So far things went well but only went so far, got a few glitches to figure out which will take a little time.

But it has been a nice day and everyone is fine.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, mountainlion....hope you had a great weekend.

That video sure had a lot of different planes....my favorites are always the aerial refueling. Great pictures!!

The “Old 666”...what a story! No matter the odds, they kept fighting, and won. Thanks for the links.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good training in “Home Repairs” for John Man.

Letting HD install the storm door...not a bad idea.

Glad you got some rest and you and Mrs MacNessa enjoyed a lovely repast of your own making.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well. Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present. Thank you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Martin B-26 Marauder

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP

Sgt Jacob M Schwallie, USA
3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Amazing Grace

[Diver Dave]

It was a busy weekend for me and family.

Sat. morning at 9am we attended the Relay For Life of Modesto. This is an annual Cancer Fund-raiser. The first lap around the track at a local high school was for cancer survivors which I participated. The relay went for 24 hours and we returned this morning to do the final lap. My son-in-law participated for the full 24 hours along with grandsons and daughters who did a few laps during the day and night.

Saturday afternoon we attended a wedding of our grand-neice. It was really special.

Kicked back and relaxed for the rest of the day today. Went out this evening and watched the solar eclipse viewing it through a welding hood dark lense. The sun had the appearance of a crescent moon. Really cool.

BTW, my pathology report from my surgery in March shows no cancer. Will return to my oncologist in six months for follow-up.

Thank You for being in my corner during this whole ordeal.

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP

Spc Chase S Marta, USA
3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Amazing Grace

[wjcsux]

Hi Kathy! Thank you so much! ((hugs))

[Kathy in Alaska]

My goodness, you WERE busy. Congratulations on your participation, both first lap and last, in the Relay For Life.

Would have enjoyed seeing the solar eclipse, but missed it.

And Praise The Lord for your clean pathology report!

Keep “studying” so you can pass your next test. ((HUGS))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey there....((HUGS))....I was just outside trying to get a picture of a young moose in our yard. She moved next door and behind a tree before I could get my camera.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul. ((HUGS))

Hope The Mayor clan had a nice weekend.

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP

Pfc Dustin D Gross, USA
3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Amazing Grace

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...bet you are glad to have your truck back. And I bet Bo is too.

I hate not being able to go where I want, when I want. LOL!