Sidney Ward Dunagan
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, then-First Lieutenant Sidney Ward Dunagan was serving with the 50th Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, 1LT Dunagan's unit was in action against German forces. Due to cloud formations over enemy territory while leading his element in the initial invasion of France, 1LT Dunagan's airplane became separated from his entire group and was forced to continue to the Drop Zone alone. Despite the lack of radio aid, excellent navigation enabled him to locate the Drop Zone and to drop his paratroopers in the specified area. Following the drop, intense enemy ground fire enveloped his airplane immediately resulting in damage to his aircraft. 1LT Dunagan was notified by his Crew Chief that 2 paratroopers had failed to jump due to entanglement of their parachutes. Determined to complete his mission, he unhesitatingly put his plane into a 360-degree turn to the right to drop the 2 remaining troopers. The drop was accomplished and heavy enemy ground fire was again encountered. While engaged in evasive action at an altitude of 100 feet, enemy cross fire struck and instantly killed him. 1LT Dunagan'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 1
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Honors

First Lieutenant Sidney Ward Dunagan is honored at the visitor center at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. His photo and a description of his sacrifice is contained on one of the panels.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Sidney Ward Dunagan (ASN: 0-525079), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as an Officer of a Troop Carrier Airplane in the 50th Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group, NINTH Air Force, on 6 June 1944. On this date, while leading his element in the initial invasion of France, due to cloud formations over enemy territory, Lieutenant Dunagan's airplane became separated from his entire group and was forced to continue to the Drop Zone in a single ship. Excellent navigation without radio aid enabled him to locate the Drop Zone and to drop his paratroopers in the briefed zone. Intense enemy ground fire enveloped his airplane immediately thereafter, as a result of which the ship sustained damage. Lieutenant Dunagan was notified by his Crew Chief that two paratroopers had failed to jump due to entangling of their chutes. Determined to complete his assigned mission, with utter disregard for his personal safety and fully cognizant of dangers to be encountered, he unhesitatingly put his ship into a three hundred sixty degree turn to the right to drop his remaining troopers. This accomplished, violent enemy ground fire was again encountered, and while engaged in evasive action and at an altitude of one hundred feet, defenseless in an unarmored plane, enemy cross fire struck and instantly killed him. The outstanding heroism displayed by Lieutenant Dunagan, his disregard for personal safety, and devotion to duty, reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 87 (November 2, 1944)

Burial

First Lieutenant Sidney Ward Dunagan is buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England, in Plot E, Row 1, Grave 34.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=131001291