Donald Alvin Gaylord

Military
Second Lieutenant Donald A. Gaylord, a pilot of the 351st Bomb Group with the damaged fueselage of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3532) nicknamed "Lucille Ball". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication'16 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '293129.' [Censor no.]. Printed caption on reverse: 'PILOT RISKS LIFE TO KEEP FLYING FORTRESS FROM CRASHING ON ENGLISH TOWN. It has just been disclosed that a 23-year-old American pilot 2nd Lt. Donald A Gaylord of Waterloo, IA, ris media-380016.jpg FRE 1221 Second Lieutenant Donald A. Gaylord, a pilot of the 351st Bomb Group with the damaged fueselage of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3532) nicknamed "Lucille Ball". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication'16 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '293129.' [Censor no.]. Printed caption on reverse: 'PILOT RISKS LIFE TO KEEP FLYING FORTRESS FROM CRASHING ON ENGLISH TOWN. It has just been disclosed that a 23-year-old American pilot 2nd Lt. Donald A Gaylord of Waterloo, IA, risked his life to keep his badly damaged Flying Fortress, "Lucille Ball" from crashing into the centre of Ipswich, England, as the bomber returned from an attack on Gelsenkirchen, on November 5. Crossing the coast of England the Fortress was flying on a single engine and at 3,000ft Gaylord ordered the crew to bail out. He then set the bomber on automatic pilot on a course which would take it out over the channel but the automatic pilot was unable to keep the ship in level flight and it started a dive for the centre of the city. Gaylord, however managed to pull the bomber out of its dive at 200ft and belly landed in a field on the outskirts of the city. Associated Press Photo Shows: 2nd Lt Donald A Gaylord, 23, of Waterloo, IA, who risked his life to prevent his badly-damaged Flying Fortress, "Lucille Ball", from crashing into the centre of Ipswich.' Handwritten on reverse: 'Photo posed some time after incident, other photo shows wood braces under a/c.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1221 - Second Lieutenant Donald A. Gaylord, a pilot of the 351st Bomb Group with the damaged fueselage of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3532)...

Second Lieutenant Donald Gaylord from Waterloo, Iowa, was a pilot of the 351st Bomb Group, based at Polebrook in Northamptonshire from April 1943. During his second mission on 5 November 1943, Gaylord’s B-17 (serial number 42-3532) “Lucille Ball” was hit by enemy fire over Gelsenkirchen, Germany. With only one working engine, the 23-year-old pilot flew his Fortress back to England and ordered his crew to bail out.

Rapidly losing height, he tried to escape himself, leaving the aircraft on a safe course under auto-pilot, but his plane was too badly damaged and was heading for the centre of Ipswich. Risking his life, Gaylord made the decision to remain at the controls, where he then safely steered his plane clear of Ipswich and crash landed in a nearby field. “Lucille Ball” was too badly damaged to fly again but Gaylord and his crew all escaped unharmed.

Gaylord returned to America in June 1945, having served at Polebrook for the duration of the war.



He enjoyed a successful career with the US Air Force, with 4,800 hours flown in B-17, B-29, and B-52 bomber aircraft, KC-97 and KC-135 air refueling aircraft as well as numerous training type aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Gaylord retired from the US Air Force in 1975 as Brigadier-General. He died in 1998.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

Second Lieutenant Donald A. Gaylord, a pilot of the 351st Bomb Group with the damaged fueselage of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3532) nicknamed "Lucille Ball". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication'16 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '293129.' [Censor no.]. Printed caption on reverse: 'PILOT RISKS LIFE TO KEEP FLYING FORTRESS FROM CRASHING ON ENGLISH TOWN. It has just been disclosed that a 23-year-old American pilot 2nd Lt. Donald A Gaylord of Waterloo, IA, ris
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lucille Ball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

12 October 1998

Buried

North Syracuse Cemetery North Syracuse, Onondaga County, NY 15 October 1999 North Syracuse Cemetery North Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York

Born

Chicago, IL, USA

Other

Graduated

Waterloo West High School, 425 East Ridgeway Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50702, USA Graduated from West High School, Waterloo, Iowa in 1937

Enlisted

Commenced military career as an aviation cadet.

Other

Promotion

Received pilot's wings in April 1943, commissioned as Second Lieutenant.

Other

Completion of first combat tour of duty

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorLucy May
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Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 360

Date
ContributorEmily
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Date
ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.351st.org/ken.harbour/

Donald Alvin Gaylord: Gallery (3 items)