David R. Kingsley MOH

2Lt David R. Kingsley

 

Well. I learned something new as I researched this hero's Medal of Honor.  I read his Citation and thought he'd been one of the 5 hero's who'd been awarded the Medal of Honor on Operation Tidal Wave the Code Name for the Ploesti raid.  That raid had occurred  August 1, 1943.  So...There I was reading Lt Kingsley's Citation for his Medal of Honor.  It read that it occurred on June 23 1944.   HMMMMM, I need to do  a little research.  So, I did.  Apparently the enemy gets to rebuild things that get destroyed. like oil refineries in this case.  The Allies had to reattack the Ploesti Oil refineries and this was where and when Lt Kingsley's heroic action occurred.  As I researched this attack, I relearned the lesson contained in the Bible John 15 "No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends." 

 Citation for the award of the Medal of Honor to Lt David R. Kingsley

 For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, June 23, 1944 near Ploesti, Romania, 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 on 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.

 

 

 If that doesn't choke you up, well....It did me!

 Rest in Peace, Warrior!

 

 

Sources

https://biblehub.com/cpdv/john/15.htm 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_R._Kingsley

https://homeofheroes.com/heroes-story/david-r-kingsley/ 

https://www.173fw.ang.af.mil/Portals/65/Lt.%20David%20Kingsley%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf 

https://homeofheroes.com/heroes-story/david-r-kingsley/. Very long story, but a lot of background