GEORGE R. DALL, 2LT, USA
George Dall '41
George Robert Dall was admitted to the Naval Academy from Ohio on July 21, 1937 at age 17 years 3 months. He was "Honorably discharged on account of physical disability" on June 1, 1939.
Lucky Bag
George Robert Dall is one of the names listed below this passage:
These are the men who have been at one time members of the Class of Nineteen Hundred Forty-one, but for various reasons—often things over which they had no control—they did not remain to finish with us. Some of them are now in civilian life, and to them we with all the success that life can offer. Others are members of classes now in the Academy, and for them we hope that our meeting as brother officers in the Service, though delayed, is no less certain of fulfillment.
Photographs
Photo located by Kathy Franz
Loss
George was lost on December 18, 1944, when the B-29 ("Dixie Darlin'") he was aboard crashed while on a bombing mission to Nagoya, Japan, from Saipan. The bomber was last seen approximately 80 nautical miles from Iwo Jima. The crew of eleven were initially declared MIA and later killed in action.
Other Information
From Find A Grave:
Graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1941, and later enlisted as a Private in the Army Air Forces on 24 November 1942 at Los Angeles, California.
From April through September 1944, underwent B-29 aircraft transition and combat crew training at Pratt Army Air Field, Kansas.
In Nov 1944, deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 497th Bombardment Group, 871st Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.
On 13 Dec 1944 his crew took-off at 1909hrs aboard "Dixie Darling" on a XXI BC weather strike mission (WSM #23A), but returned at 0950hrs on 14 Dec 1944 with engine trouble and without hitting the target.
On 18 December 1944, he flew as the Flight Engineer aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress nicknamed "Dixie Darling" (Serial #42-63413) Tail Code: A-Square-45.
It was one of 89 aircraft launched in a multi-group formation to bombard the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Company and Aircraft Engine Plants near Nagoya, Japan.
However approximately 80 nautical miles west of Iwo Jima, his aircraft was last sighted leaving the formation at a geographic location of 24 degrees +33 minutes North and 139 degrees +50 minutes East. Weather at the time was under-cast with a ceiling of 10,000 feet and less than 3 miles of visibility at sea level.
His aircraft never returned to Saipan and was presumed to have been forced to ditch due to mechanical problems. A routine sea search failed to reveal any trace of the plane or survivors.
His draft card, which states he registered in July 1941, lists the following information:
- Date of birth: April 11, 1920
- Place of birth: Lorain, Ohio
- Residence place: Los Angeles, CA
- Employer: San Diego Gas & Electric
- Head of household: self
- Height: 5' 8"
- Weight: 145
- Complexion: Light
- Hair: Brown
- Next of kin: Grace Dall
Grace was his mother; she lived in La Mesa, California.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
At Cal Tech, he was pictured with the YMCA group and as living in Ricketts Hall (1941 book). His mother was Grace Corinne, brothers James and John. Father James was an auto salesman. George's birth was not recorded at the time by the doctor. So, in 1941, application was made to the court, and it was recorded.
Note: It appears several aspects of this biography are wrong, including his prior service, his date of birth, and place of birth.
Memorial Hall Error
George was not a LT in the Navy; he should be listed as a 2LT, USA.
George is listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall. While not an obvious error, inclusion on the panel for crashes like this (incidental to combat flights) has been inconsistent across WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
