John S. Dunaway
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 6 November 1944, then-First Lieutenant John S. Dunaway was serving as Pilot of a P-39 Airacobra Fighter airplane in the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force.

On that day, 1LT Dunaway’s Squadron was in aerial combat against Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific Area of Operations when 1LT Dunaway shot down 4 enemy aircraft in a single engagement. 1LT Dunaway’s skilled flying, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 22 November 1944, 1LT Dunaway was listed as Missing in Action.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Award Numeral 5
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
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 John S. Dunaway (0-731957), 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-39 Fighter Airplane in the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 6 November 1944 in the Southwest Pacific Area. On this date Lieutenant Dunaway shot down four enemy aircraft in a single engagement. First Lieutenant Dunaway's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 82 (1945)

Memorialization

The remains of First Lieutenant John S. Dunaway have never been recovered. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56755214