CAPT. LINDOL "LINDY" GRAHAM

(Total Number Victories: 5.5)

From Boston, Mass, Lindol Graham attended an Ivy League college before graduating from training at Selma, Alabama, Class 41-G. After being assigned to the 20th.Fg he became the 79th. Squadron's Operations Officer in November , 1943. on 29 January, 1944 he scored victories over three FW-190s on an escort mission to Frankfort and he became the first ace of the 79th.FS, and the second ace in the 20th.FG on 29 February, 1944 after he downed 2 Me-100s in the Koblenz area. On 18 March, 1944, he scored his final 1/2 victory just before he was killed. Graham followed an Me-110 down to the deck and just after the enemy aircraft had bellied in, Graham made one final pass; as he pulled up his own aircraft went into a roll, nosed down and dove straight into the ground. His P-38J,Serial #42-67926, was named "Susie" and was coded MC-H. He received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross with one cluster.         "Graham's grave is at Lorraine, F-7-28. 3-18-44 was a weird day. I was Graham's wingman. We had bounced a Me-110, right on the deck. We both had made firing passes, but he was a sharp German, flying slow and skidding so he was going other than he appeared to be in and around timber. Graham got right on top of him and forced him into the snow covered ground. Two got out and took off across an open area. Strange, they were close to timber. Graham made a pass right over them, then the weird part, he pulled up in a steep chandell, but the nose fell through and he went straight in and exploded..." -- Capt. Arthur W. Heiden, 79th.FS

"SUSIE - A Presentation Aircraft"     "Susie" was the P-38 flown by Capt. Lindol Graham, 79th. Squadron Operations Officer, who was shot down, killed in action on 18 March, 1944. MC-H P-38J-10LO #42-67926 was known as a presentation aircraft, and according to Ralph Englehart (later to be the crew chief for Maj. Jack Ilfrey,) who crewed on it, it had a plaque stating "In Memoriam of Lloyd Lea Wade."     Warren Bodie, Mr. P-38, reports that Lockheed employees probably contributed funds and free overtime work to produce this P-38, which wound up in the 20th. Fighter Group. According to Warren's book The Lockheed P-38 Lightning, "Susie" was one of 790 J10 models delivered to the Army between Oct. and Dec., 1943 (From: King's Cliffe Remembered,Summer, 1992 issue)

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