Marvin F. Muir
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, then-Second Lieutenant Marvin F. Muir was serving as Pilot of a C-47 Skytrain Troop Carrier Aircraft in the 93rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

That day, prior to the land invasion of the European Continent, 2LT Muir’s unit was in action against German forces. At 0116 hours, 2LT Muir was flying C-47 Skytrain (SN 42-100876) nicknamed "3B-R" and he was the Lead Pilot in a wing element of C-47-type Troop Carrier Aircraft participating in a para-drop mission behind enemy lines. 2LT Muir’s plane was carrying paratroopers from D Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. After his plane was severely hit by enemy ground fire, it burst into flames at the low altitude of 750 feet and only two and one-half minutes from the drop zone. Although forced to leave the formation, he battled his plane's controls so he could achieve his mission and the paratroopers could parachute into the assigned drop zone. After the the paratroopers had jumped, 2LT Muir attempted, unsuccessfully, to crash-land the burning plane and save his crew members trapped inside. 2LT Muir’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Marvin F. Muir (ASN: 0-541641), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Lead Pilot in a wing element of C-47 type Troop Carrier Aircraft in the 93d Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group, NINTH Air Force, while participating in a paradrop mission behind enemy lines, immediately prior to the land invasion of the Continent of Europe, 6 June 1944. After his ship was mortally hit by enemy ground fire it burst into flames while at an altitude of only 750 feet and two and one-half minutes from the drop zone. Although forced to leave formation, he courageously stuck to his post and battled the controls in order that he might effectively accomplish his mission and properly accomplish the evacuation of his paratroopers in the assigned dropping zone. After the evacuation of the paratroopers, he continued in an attempt to crash land the flaming aircraft in order by chance to save his crew members trapped inside. The devotion to duty, heroism, and service above self displayed by Lieutenant Muir on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 58 (1944)

Burial

First Lieutenant Marvin F. Muir is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France in Plot C, Row 12, Grave 5.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56648071/marvin-f-muir