KINGSLEY, DAVID R. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 97th
Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force. Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania,
23 June 1944. Entered service at: Portland, Oreg. Birth: Oregon. G.O. No.:
26, 9 April 1945. 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.
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