Cyril W. Jones, Jr.
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 11 September 1944, First Lieutenant Cyril W. Jones, Jr. was serving as Pilot of a P-51 Mustang Fighter Plane in the 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force.

On that day, 1LT Jones’ unit was in aerial combat against German forces during an air mission over Germany. In a single engagement, 1LT Jones shot down 4 German aircraft which, when combined with 2 previous victories, made him an Ace. 1LT Jones’ courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre (France)
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Cyril W. Jones, Jr. (0-802034), First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 11 September 1944, during an air mission over Germany. On this date, in a single engagement, First Lieutenant Jones shot down FOUR enemy aircraft which, when combined with two previous victories, made him an ACE. First Lieutenant Jones' unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 13 (1945)

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal [see photo] to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. First Lieutenant Cyril W. Jones, Jr. was one of them, having been credited with 6 aircraft shot down in aerial combat. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Burial

First Lieutenant Cyril W. Jones, Jr. is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France in Plot E, Row 6, Grave 19.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56656788/cyril-w-jones