Darrel E. McMahan
Darrel McMahan is the pilot from 62nd squadron who wrote to Robert's parents after he went missing. He's a fellow Californian, born in Swayzee, Indiana and did his basic training alongside Robert Jenkins. He was on the same mission as Robert on the 15th July 1944 but was part of the group that attacked Vendôme rather than Le Breuil.
Enlistment
Darrel's enlistment card on the 30th June 1942 gives us some information on him. He was just 20 years old when he wrote to Robert's parents.
Registration card:
Name: Darrel Edward McMahan.
Place of residence: Henry Lund, Shandon Star Route, Calif
Mailing address: Same (someone else has written 1811 Park, Paso Robles, Calif)
Age: 18 Date of birth: 19 February 1924
Name and address of someone who will always know your address: Mabel McMahan, Marianna Shop, Pittsburg, Calif.
Employer's name and address : Henry Lund, Shandon Star Route, Calif
Place of employment or business: Henry Lund, Shandon Star Rt, SLO, Calif (SLO is San Luis Obispo County).
Signature: Darrel McMahan
Registrar's report:
Race: White
Height; 5'11'' (1m80) Weight: 165 lbs (75kg)
Eyes: Hazel Hair: Brown Complexion: Light
Other physical characteristics: Dark mole on left side of chin.
Registrar: Garethea G. Melgard
Local board : 136 Paso Robles, Cal
Date: 30th June 1942
Employment and Residence
Henry Lund is listed in the 1930 census as a farmer so presumably Darrel lived and worked at the farm. The address 1811 Park, Paso Robles, Calif that has been added to the Registration Card is presumably Park Street, the house still exists in 2023, its in the town of Paso Robles though, not on a farm.
National Archives (US)
Research into Darrel McMahan isn't helped by the confusion in the National Archives, he has two entries that have the same serial number and residence etc. but other differences including a 10 year age difference. Neither of the enlistment dates are correct, the Rgistrars report above, gives the date as the 30th June 1942.
Signature
I wanted to double check that I have the right person so I compared Darrel's signature on the Registration Card against the signature on one of the letters he sent to Robert's parents. They look similar to me but I've no experience in doing this type of comparison.
American Air Museum (Duxford, UK)
The archives at Duxford in the United Kingdom have some information about Darrel (they spell Darrel with two L's)
Awards: Air Medal with 7 oak leaf clusters (1 silver, 2 bronze) American Campaign Medal Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Service Cross World War II Victory Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 bronze stars.
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Darrell E. McMahan (0-763699), First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 62d Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 2 September 1944. On that date, First Lieutenant McMahan shot down one enemy airplane. First Lieutenant McMahan's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Combat report 4th July 1944
Darrel claims a half kill of a Mescherschmitt BF109 along with Lt Frank C. Newell
Credit: wwiiaircraftperformance.org
Act of Courage
The photo dated the 07th September 1944 is of Darrel McMahan showing the nose art of his Thunderbolt to fellow pilot Lt Jack W. Pierce. The art is Donald Duck in the Stalag Luft III prison where captured allied airmen were held. It says 'I wanted wings'. The text that goes with this photo is:
In order to save his flight leader, lst Lt. Jack W. Pierce, 21 of Melbourne, Australia, who was limping home at low altitude in a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt which had crashed through a tree, an 8th Air Force Fighter Command Pilot, 2nd Lt. Darrell McMahan, of Pittsburg, Calif., made three perilous attacks on four flak positions, diverting their fire to himself and knocking one of them out. Lt. McMahan points out his planes insignia to Lt. Pierce, who almost had it happen to him and might well have, if it hadn't been for the teamwork shown by his wingman.
Combat report 12th September 1944
Darrel claims a kill of a Mescherschmitt BF109.
Credit: wwiiaircraftperformance.org
September 17th 1944
On Sept. 17, 1944, McMahan was flying a mission over Holland when he came under heavy fire. McMahan was able to make a safe landing in his nearly unrecognizable P-47, but not without the efforts of a fellow pilot from Berkeley, Calif., who guided him home by radio – a pilot who, McMahan said, saved his life.
That mission was McMahan’s last. His right arm was broken in two places, his right kneecap was splintered, and he had multiple fractures in his right leg. After 60 missions and 195 hours in the air, McMahan was sent back to the United States to recover at the Santa Ana Army Air Base Hospital.
This text is an extract from Darrel McMahan's biography by Jannette Jauregui
Coach McMahan
Darrel became a coach after the war and has a gym named after him. The Santa Paula High School McMahan Gym.
Darrel Edward McMahan 1924-1990
Darrel died in 1990 at Santa Paula, California aged 66.