"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."
From Capt. Lindsey's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on May 30, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian
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