Frederick W. Durand
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 1 August 1943, Staff Sergeant Frederick W. Durand was serving as Tail Gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber in the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Ninth Air Force (Attached).

On that day, SSG Durand's unit was in action against German forces while participating in a bombing mission against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. The mission was a long, hazardous attack made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft against a vital enemy oil installation. As his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe, SSG Durand acquitted himself with great skill. Although his plane was severely damaged, he continued on in the face of almost insurmountable odds. While over the blazing target, SSG Durand calmly continued to fire his guns until he was killed by enemy fire. SSG Durand's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, 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 Award Numeral 2
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Aerial Gunner Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Frederick W. Durand (16021949), Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Tail Gunner on a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Staff Sergeant Durand acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged he continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the blazing target, Staff Sergeant Durand, with heroic calm and unflinching loyalty, remained steadfast by his guns until he was killed by enemy fire. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Durand on this occasion, at the cost of his life, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: Ninth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 90 (1943)

Memorialization

The remains of Staff Sergeant Frederick W. Durand were never recovered. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56308458

SSG Durand also has a cenotaph at Hurley Cemetery in Hurley, Iron County, WI, in Block 5.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=101817321