Loye James Lauraine, Jr.
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 25 November 1945, First Lieutenant Ross Loye James Lauraine, Jr. was serving as Pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber in the 837th Bombardment Squadron, 487th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force.

On that day, 1LT Lauraine’s unit was in action against German forces while participating in a bombing mission against enemy ground targets in the European Theater of Operations. On that date, 1LT Lauraine's B-17 Flying Fortress bomber (SN 42-97997) had just finished dropping its bombs on an oil refinery in Merseburgh, Germany, when it was hit by a burst of flak from German anti-aircraft guns that seriously damaged the controls. 1LT Lauraine's flying skills enabled him to pilot the crippled bomber back to England, but landing the plane was impossible, and he ordered his crew to bail out. 1LT Lauraine was to then head plane away from land so it would crash in the North Sea. As 1LT Lauraine left the controls to bail out, the damaged plane went out of control and into a steep dive. As a result, 1LT Lauraine was unable to reach the escape hatch and was killed when the plane crashed. The only way the crew was able to bail out was because 1LT Lauraine remained at the controls and kept the plane under control. The selfless actions of 1LT Lauraine saved the lives of his crew and many on the ground, but he died in the crash. 1LT Lauraine’s 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
Air Medal with Award Numeral 3 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 (Synopsis)

First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Loye J. Lauraine (ASN: 0-750628), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 837th Bombardment Squadron, 487th Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 25 November 1945, against enemy ground targets in the European Theater of Operations. On that date, Lieutenant Lauraine's plane had just finished dropping it's bombs on an oil refinery in Merseburgh, Germany, when it was hit by a burst of flak from enemy anti-aircraft guns. With masterful airmanship, he piloted the crippled bomber back to England and ordered his crew to bail out. As Lieutenant Lauraine prepared to bail out, the plane went into a steep dive and was headed toward a densely populated military installation. Instead of jumping out, which he could have done, the he went back to the controls and regained altitude. By his actions Lieutenant Lauraine saved the lives of many on the ground but he lost his own, as the B-17 went into a violent spin and crashed in an open field. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Lauraine on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 37 (1945)

Burial

First Lieutenant Loye James Lauraine, Jr. is buried at Gonzales Masonic Cemetery in Gonzales, Gonzales County, TX.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15384340