Malcolm Clay Dalton
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
World War II

Malcolm Clay Dalton was born on 18 March 1922 in Richland County, WI. He was the son of Henry Clay Dalton and Kathleen W. Sales.

Staff Sergeant Malcolm Clay Dalton, Serial Number 36264953, was a Waist Gunner in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was killed in action in Operation Tidal Wave, just south of his target in Campina (near Ploesti), Romania on 1 August 1943.

From the Sheboygan Press, 17 November 1943:

"DECORATIONS AWARDED TO 42 WISCONSIN FLIERS - Washington- (AP) Award of Decorations of 42 Wisconsin fliers who took part in the low level bombardment of the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania on August 1st was announced today by the War Department. In all 1,548 officers and enlisted men were honored for the mission which covered more than 2,000 miles and destroyed 42 per cent of the total Rumanian refining capacity in a devastating blow at Axis war economy. Two Congressional Medals awarded have been announced previously. The awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross to: Malcom C. Dalton Staff Sergeant, Soldiers Grove. As a waist gunner of a B-24, S/Sgt. Dalton carried out his duties with skill and diligence as the aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. His chances of escaping destruction were highly improbable, because the plane in which he served was struck by antiaircraft fire which caused one of the fuel tanks to leak badly, and the target area was aflame with burning oil tanks whose smoke and fire reached higher than the altitude of the plane, showing unwavering devotion to duty and calm courage S/Sgt. Dalton remained at his post, manning his gun while the aircraft successfully bombed the target. (Reported missing in action)"

Army Air Forces Air Craft Number: 42-40753 Letter: J
Nickname: Ole Kickapoo
Target: Red
Bomber Group: 389th Squadron: 564
Waist Gunner

The crew is buried at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Lincoln County, NE.