MAJ. A. M. "BUCKY" ELTON
350TH COMMANDING OFFICER/ 418TH OPERATIONS OFFICER
MAJ. ALBERT MAX. ELTON (0-398685), WAS OPERATIONS OFFICER OF
THE 418TH SQDN. WHEN THE GROUP FLEW TO ENGLAND IN JUNE 1943 (Capt at that
point). ; When Maj Eagan (418th CO) was shot down on Oct 10, 1943,
Capt Elton became temporary CO of the 418th until Capt. Ev Blakely was made CO
of the 418th and Capt Elton transferred to the 350th BS and was
made CO. He BECAME COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 350TH WHEN GALE CLEVEN WAS LOST
ON THE MUNSTER MISSION OF 10 OCT 43. On March 6, 1944 Maj "Bucky" Elton was
leading the 100th "A" Group to Berlin. On that day the 100th BG lost 15 Crews.
Missions:
| 14 JAN 44 |
FORET D'HESDIN |
-- |
| 06 MAR 44 |
BERLIN |
LEAD 100TH "A" GROUP |
| 27 MAR 44 |
BORDEAUX |
-- |
| 13 APR 44 |
AUGSBURG |
-- |
| 22 APR 44 |
HAMM |
COL KELLY FIRST MISSION, FLEW AS AN OBSERVER |
My father Albert Max Elton, Buck Elton, went on to become a
Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, a distinguished career in the military, ending
with his retirement as Professor of Aerospace Studies at UCLA, California. He
started a college, Casa Loma College, in the poorest neighborhood in the San
Fernando Valley and developed the first of many new programs modeled
throughout the country……Pat Elton (Daughter)
Albert Max Elton was a Lt. Col. from 1946 until he retired in
1967
Date of Rank 24 Feb 46
Augmented Regular Air Force (FR35500) 11 Apr 51
Previous Serial Numbers: AO398685, 7004732
Discharged 27 Oct 67 (Permanent Disability)
Decorations:
Distinguished Flying Cross (GO291 Hq 8th AF 1944)
Air Medal (Same GO as DFC)
Air Force Commendation Medal (GO63 Hq 15th AF 1960)
1st Oak Leaf Cluster to AFCM (SOG167 15th AF 1963)
Combat Readiness Medal (GO76 Hq 3rd AF 1945)
1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Clusters to CR (GO66 Hq 15th AF 1957)
Purple Heart (no date)
1st Oak Leaf Cluster to PH (no date)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (no date)
American Defense Service Medal (no date)
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (no date)
2 Bronze Service Stars to EAMECM (no date)
World War II Victory Medal (no date)
United Nations Service Medal (no date)
National Defense Service Medal (no date)
1 Bronze Service Star to NDSM (no date)
Korea Service Medal (no date)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (no date)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (no date)
American Campaign Medal (no date)
1 Bronze Service Star to ACM (no date)
Air Force Longevity Service Award (no date)
4 Oak Leaf Clusters to AFLSA (no date)
Training (DD-214)
B-50D Familiarization Course - 1951
Advanced Flying School Jet 1955
ABC Weapons (Nuclear) 1956
B-52 Combat Crew Training 1957
KC-135 Combat Crew Training 1959
Missile Launch Officer 1961
Missile Maintenance Officer 1961
Autometics (?) 1961
Counterinsurgency Indoctrination Course 1964
Air War College 1964
B.A. International Affairs (Probably AFIT)
Hello Mike Faley, (from Jeff DeLong)
Here is the info from the report of "Paddledoot's Proxy" as
told by Capt. Elton:
"I took off at 1833, September 6, 1943 to slow time a new
engine (no. 3). The others aboard were (1) Pilot and Co-Pilot of a replacement
crew. (2) Our squadron line chief (engineering). At 1925 I attempted to
contact the tower for landing instruction and found my radio out. I then
attempted to get visual (green light) by flying over the field gear down. The
right gear would not extend either electrically or manually. As darkness was
approaching I knew that I hed to set it down shortly, regardless of the full
gas load ( approximately 1600 Gls.) I fired a red-red flare on those dry run
approaches and dropped a note to the man on the tower. When I sure that all on
the ground was ready, ambulances, fire-truck, and men in asbestos suits, I
landed the ship on the grass paralleling our E-W runway. Nothing unusual
happened."
John B. Kidd added the following:
"A report from the squadron-engineering officer stated that
the upper limit switch failed to operate causing the motor to burn out, and
the clutch to freeze. This prevented the gear from being lowered by the hand
crank. No responsibility can be placed upon the crew due to the mechanical
nature of the failure. I witnessed the landing, which was excellent. The
report listed J.J Flannigan (CP), G.A. VanGemert (E), and D.E. Dunsdon (CP) as
the other crewmembers with Capt. Elton. It also stated that the aircraft was
recovered by the 98th Service Squadran. The accident happened Sept. 6, 43 and
the report was stamped as received by Headquarters Flight Control Command in
Winston-Salem, NC on Oct. 2, 43. The report totaled 9 pages.."
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