John Edmond BAKALAR

P-51 Mustang - Type D-5 s/n 44-13895 FT-J
« Buck’s Baby Buggy »

Mission: Departure for an operational mission on the Gaël aviation camp.

TakeOff: Terrain A-31 Gaël (35)

Crashes at takeoff after a mechanical problem,

The plane is destroyed

Map Brittany American Cemetery

Citation for the Distinguished Service Cross presentation (posthumously) to Lieutenant John E. Bakalar:

“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) John E. Bakalar (ASN: 0-732120), United States 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 353d Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 16 August 1944, while participating in a controlled area sweep over enemy occupied territory. On this date, Lieutenant Bakalar took part in a diving attack upon a numerically superior enemy formation. Attacked constantly by the enemy who all but encircled him, and despite the fact that he had become separated from his wingman just after the initial dive, he fearlessly engaged one enemy aircraft after another and destroyed three of them. The outstanding heroism and complete disregard for personal safety displayed by Lieutenant Bakalar on this occasion 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. 97 (December 11, 1944)

 Lieutenant John E. BAKALAR was born on August 29, 1920 in Hammond, Indiana.
He graduated from Hammond high school and studied at the University of Idaho, in Moscow.

Prior to his enlistment in January 1942, he worked as an electrician for “E.I Du Pont de Nemours Company”, a factory manufacturing gun powder, at first, a company which then became one of the biggest Chemical groups. This American Company was founded in 1802 in Wilmington, Delaware, by Eleuthère and Irénée Du Pont de Nemours, a family native of France.

Lt BAKALAR enlisted in the US Air Corps at Fort Harrison, Indiana on January 26, 1942.
On June 5 he was assigned to the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group 9th USAAF, then stationed on Lashenden R.A.F base, near Headcorn, Kent, England.

During the Battle of Normandy, this unit was stationed, in early July, on the advanced landing ground A-2 in Cricqueville. It took part in ground support missions by strafings and bombing.
For the most part, it was a ceaseless effort to support troops on the ground, enabling the breakthrough around Saint-Lô at the end of July.

On August 15, 1944 the group relocates to the airfield, formerly used by the Luftwaffe in Gaël, Brittany, renamed ALG A-31.
On that very airfield, Lt John E. BAKALAR, “Buck”, died due to a take-off accident, piloting his P-51-5 he had nicknamed “Buck's Baby Buggy”. He had turned 24 two days before.

September 1 would have been his 36th mission since June 14, including two “give-ups”. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Lt BAKALAR had three victories, on three Focke-Wulf Fw190s he had shot down on August 16, and for this action, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.