Francis Vernon Lael
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Francis Vernon Lael was a graduate of The Citadel in the Class of 1940.

On 5 April 1944, First Lieutenant Francis Vernon Lael was serving as a pilot on B-24H Liberator Bomber (SN 42-78199) in the 723rd Bombardment Squadron, 450th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Fifteenth Air Force,

On that day, 1LT Lael’s unit was in action against German forces while participating in a bombing mission against petroleum refineries at Ploesti, Romania. After his bomber was severely damaged by flak, 1LT Lael ordered his air crew to evacuate the aircraft and, to ensure that every member of his crew got out safely, he maintained control of the plane until it was too late for him to jump and he died in the crash. 1LT Lael’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, 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
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern 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 Francis V. Lael (0-667525), First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as an Officer of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 723 Bombardment Squadron, 450th Bombardment Group (H), FIFTEENTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 5 April 1944, against enemy targets in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Lael on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 15th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: U.S. Army Air Forces-Mediterranean Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 15 (1945)

Memorialization

The remains of First Lieutenant Francis Vernon Lael have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Florence, Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55903265/francis-vernon-lael