Klamath Falls

Yes, we've seen this picture before.  It was taken at the parade field at Lackland AFB Joint Base Lackland.  Be that as it may, it is a monument to the USAF (and its antecedents) recipients of the Medal of Honor.  It was taken a few years ago and hopefully has been amended to include Tech Sergeant John Chapman.  I may have to visit again and check.

But, I was doing some research on a subject that has been rattling around in my brain (Yes, Beans, I know...Not a lot there to cause a rattling noise) since I started writing this series of articles.  A comment by William last week about "...how political  the Medal of Honor is" kinda hit home on that rattling sound.

However, and needless to say, I'm gonna want to step very carefully on that posting.  It may, nay probably, will never see the light of day.

So, we're going to look into another of the names on the above monument.  I think this one is a cut and dried case. No politics involved.

I was reviewing references I'd had on Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on the Ploesti Oil Refineries on 1 August 1943.  I've got postings here, here and here on Medal of Honor recipients from that raid.  5 Medals were awarded, 3 posthumously, the most awarded for a single battle in Air Force History.  Later, I reported another recipient in a later raid on that target.

So, I was searching using "Medal of Honor Ploesti" as the search term and came up with a 7th name. I went back to the above photo and yep, that name is there. 

2LT David R. Kingsley. Lt Kingsley was working as a firefighter in Oregon before Pearl Harbor.  He joined the Army Air Corps in April 1942. Lt Kingsley was qualified as both a Navigator and Bombardier on B-17s completing combat training and deploying to Italy in March of 1944.  Source

Source

His crew and he had completed 20 combat missions by 23 June 1944.  On that day they are scheduled for a sortie with the target being Ploesti.

After releasing their bombs during the attack run, the B-17 was hit by AAA (HISS!!!) and sustained damage to an engine that caused them to lose altitude and slowed them down.  The loss of the other bomber's protection drew the attention of 3 Messerschmidt BF-109s.

During this period, the bomber loses another engine and one of the crew is wounded.  As Lt Kingsley's primary role in this mission is complete, he moves aft to try and assist the wounded crewman.

The fighter's continue their attack, and wound the tail gunner.  As he crawls forward, Lt Kingsley removes the crewman's parachute and wraps him in blankets to keep him comfortable.  Meanwhile, the ball turret gunner is injured also.  Lt Kingsley provides assistance to him also.

Eight more BF-109's join the fight, and the bomber is sustaining more serious damage.  Finally, the Pilot sounds the Bail Out alarm.  Lt Kingsley assists the ball turret gunner back into his chute and gets him out the bomb bay.  He then returns for the tail gunner, however his chute can't be located.

As their searching, the aircraft starts to fly erratically and they both realize that time is running out.

At that point, Lt Kingsley gives the tail gunner his chute, puts the rip cord in his hand, and assists him out of the airplane.

The plane shortly thereafter crashes.  Lt Kingsley is the only crew fatality.

Source

Unfortunately, the bomber hits the ground near a village in Bulgaria and a family of 7 is also killed.

Source

A memorial to the 8 was constructed out of pieces of the wrecked bomber.  After the war, Lt Kingsley's remains were recovered and re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

The tail gunner later remarked "David then took me in his arms and struggled to the bomb bay, where he told me to keep my hand on the rip cord and said to pull it when I was clear of the ship…Then he told me to bail out. I watched the ground go by for a few seconds and then I jumped. I looked at Dave the look he had on his face was firm and solemn. He must have known what was coming because there was no fear in his eyes at all. That was the last time I saw....Dave standing in the bomb bay."

John 15:13 

Why the title?  Well there is an airfield at Klamath Falls.  It's named Kingsley field.  It's home to the Oregon Air National Guard and they fly this airplane.

Lt Kingsley's Citation:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, 23 June 1944 near Ploesti, Rumania, while flying as bombardier of a B17 type aircraft.

On the bomb run 2d Lt. Kingsley's aircraft was severely damaged by intense flak and forced to drop out of formation but the pilot proceeded over the target and 2d Lt. Kingsley successfully dropped his bombs, causing severe damage to vital installations.

The damaged aircraft, forced to lose altitude and to lag behind the formation, was aggressively attacked by 3 ME-109 aircraft, causing more damage to the aircraft and severely wounding the tail gunner in the upper arm. The radio operator and engineer notified 2d Lt. Kingsley that the tail gunner had been wounded and that assistance was needed to check the bleeding. 2d Lt. Kingsley made his way back to the radio room, skillfully applied first aid to the wound, and succeeded in checking the bleeding. The tail gunner's parachute harness and heavy clothes were removed and he was covered with blankets, making him as comfortable as possible.

Eight ME-109 aircraft again aggressively attacked 2d Lt. Kingsley's aircraft and the ball turret gunner was wounded by 20mm. shell fragments. He went forward to the radio room to have 2d Lt. Kingsley administer first aid.

A few minutes later when the pilot gave the order to prepare to bail out, 2d Lt. Kingsley immediately began to assist the wounded gunners in putting on their parachute harness. In the confusion the tail gunner's harness, believed to have been damaged, could not be located in the bundle of blankets and flying clothes which had been removed from the wounded men.

With utter disregard for his own means of escape, 2d Lt. Kingsley unhesitatingly removed his parachute harness and adjusted it to the wounded tail gunner. Due to the extensive damage caused by the accurate and concentrated 20mm. fire by the enemy aircraft the pilot gave the order to bail out, as it appeared that the aircraft would disintegrate at any moment.

2d Lt. Kingsley aided the wounded men in bailing out and when last seen by the crewmembers he was standing on the bomb bay catwalk. The aircraft continued to fly on automatic pilot for a short distance, then crashed and burned. His body was later found in the wreckage.

2d Lt. Kingsley by his gallant heroic action was directly responsible for saving the life of the wounded gunner. 

Rest in Peace, Warrior!