SSGT Malcolm Clay Dalton

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SSGT Malcolm Clay Dalton Veteran

Birth
Grant County, Wisconsin, USA
Death
1 Aug 1943 (aged 21)
Romania
Burial
Maxwell, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Add to Map
Plot
C, 0, 1281
Memorial ID
View Source
Son of Henry Clay Dalton and Kathleen W. Sales.

Staff Sergeant Malcolm Clay Dalton, Serial Number 36264953, was a Waist Gunner for the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was killed in Action in Operation Tidal Wave, just south of his target in Campina (near Ploesti), Romania. Dalton received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions that day.

From the Sheboyan Press, 17 Nov 1943:

"DECORATIONS AWARDED TO 42 WISCONSIN FLIERS - Washington- (AP) Award of Decorations of 42 Wisconsin fliers who took part in the low level bombardment of the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania on August 1st was announced today by the War Department. In all 1,548 officers and enlisted men were honored for the mission which covered more than 2,000 miles and destroyed 42 per cent of the total Rumanian refining capacity in a devastating blow at Axis war economy. Two Congressional Medal awarded have been announced previously. The awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross to: Malcom C. Dalton Staff Sergeant, Soldiers Grove. As a waist gunner of a B-24, S/Sgt. Dalton carried out his duties with skill and diligence as the aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. His chances of escaping destruction were highly improbable, because the plane in which he served was struck by antiaircraft fire which caused one of the fuel tanks to leak badly, and the target area was aflame with burning oil tanks whose smoke and fire reached higher than the altitude of the plane, showing unwavering devotion to duty and clam courage S/Sgt. Dalton remained at his post, manning his gun while the aircraft successfully bombed the target. (Reported missing in action)"

Army Air Forces
Air Craft Number: 42-40753
Letter: J
Nickname: Ole Kickapoo
Target: Red
Bomber Group: 389th
Squadron: 564
Waist Gunner

Visit the virtual cemetery of the "Ole Kickapoo" Crew.
Son of Henry Clay Dalton and Kathleen W. Sales.

Staff Sergeant Malcolm Clay Dalton, Serial Number 36264953, was a Waist Gunner for the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was killed in Action in Operation Tidal Wave, just south of his target in Campina (near Ploesti), Romania. Dalton received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions that day.

From the Sheboyan Press, 17 Nov 1943:

"DECORATIONS AWARDED TO 42 WISCONSIN FLIERS - Washington- (AP) Award of Decorations of 42 Wisconsin fliers who took part in the low level bombardment of the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania on August 1st was announced today by the War Department. In all 1,548 officers and enlisted men were honored for the mission which covered more than 2,000 miles and destroyed 42 per cent of the total Rumanian refining capacity in a devastating blow at Axis war economy. Two Congressional Medal awarded have been announced previously. The awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross to: Malcom C. Dalton Staff Sergeant, Soldiers Grove. As a waist gunner of a B-24, S/Sgt. Dalton carried out his duties with skill and diligence as the aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. His chances of escaping destruction were highly improbable, because the plane in which he served was struck by antiaircraft fire which caused one of the fuel tanks to leak badly, and the target area was aflame with burning oil tanks whose smoke and fire reached higher than the altitude of the plane, showing unwavering devotion to duty and clam courage S/Sgt. Dalton remained at his post, manning his gun while the aircraft successfully bombed the target. (Reported missing in action)"

Army Air Forces
Air Craft Number: 42-40753
Letter: J
Nickname: Ole Kickapoo
Target: Red
Bomber Group: 389th
Squadron: 564
Waist Gunner

Visit the virtual cemetery of the "Ole Kickapoo" Crew.

Inscription

MALCOLM CLAY DALTON S SGT
ELWOOD R EMERSON 2D LT
RONALD L HELDER 2D LT
RICHARD M KRUG 2D LT
JOSEPH E MIX T SGT
AIR CORPS
AUGUST 1 1943
1281