1LT. Laula Matthew Middleton was a Pilot with the 310th Bombardment Group; 428th Bombardment Squadron; and was stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO).

His Hometown was Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama.

Sunday, 4 April 1943
PRESS DATA: Two ME-109’s attacked from above and from 5 o’clock. S/Sgt Robert O. Kirkland, 14064537 (428th BS), of 707 E. Reynolds St., Plant City, Fla., fired several bursts and saw hits from his fire on the engine and fuselage of the first E/A. Pilot bailed out and E/A crashed into the sea. Another ME-109 came in at 6 o’clock at 10,000 ft. S/Sgt. Elvin A. Davis, 39303647 (428th BS), of 2710 N. Warner St., Tacoma, Washington gave him a continuous burst and when about 50 yds away the E/A’s tail assembly, right wing tip and top hatch came off and the plane went out of control and crashed into a B-25 of the formation, both going down and crashing into the sea.

Sunday, 4 April 1943
428th BS War Diary: Planes off on another sea search. We lost “48”. Lts. Middleton and Frost, S/Sgts Surbaugh, B; Everard, RG; Dickey, G; along with T/Sgt Jenkins, photographer crashed at sea when a crippled ME-109 piled into them. Four parachutes were seen to open. Fate of crew unknown. S/Sgt Kirkland accounted for one ME-109 as did S/Sgt Elvin A. Davis. Both shot a third one. One ship of the convoy is believed sunk and another probably.

Sunday, 4 April 1943
428th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order ---/mission ---) Group Mission # 63: April 4th, 18 B-25’s took off on a sea search once again at 1300 hours. This time bomber command allowed us to use the altitude approach. Once the target was sighted each box of six was to pursue a separate path so timed and coordinated that one would pass over the target as the other passed off, without being in any danger from the following bombs of the other and son that they could regain a close formation in jig time. As the attack was to come from three directions, one or two bombs were bound to hit the vessel with reasonably accurate bombing regardless of the change in course resulting from her evasive action. It was an opportunity to prove we could get results without employing the skip-bombing technique and its attendant losses.

Three merchant vessels and four escorting vessels were sighted. The largest was picked out for the target and the planned attack set off. A hospital ship--suddenly identified in the middle of the convoy, where international law decrees that it shouldn’t be, threw the plan into an indeterminate state as some dropped their bombs, some didn’t, and others altered their course, interfering with others.

Captain Helsabeck, in the lead, retained his bombs, whereas the second element in his box dropped theirs. Knowing that a mission failure here might mean the skip bombing in the future he determined to hazard the flak for a second run on another vessel.

The second element left the first, having dropped its bombs. As the lead element of three dropped its bombs--alone and apart form the remainder the escorting ME-109’s swooped down on what looked like duck soup. Five or six of 20 ME-109’s went down to the kill. Davis in the lead ship killed the pilot of an ME-109 striking from eleven O’clock. The plane--minus a controlling hand, plowed through the tail of Lieutenant Middleton’s ship. Both went down in uncontrolled spins. Four chutes were seen to open. They were: 1st Lt. Roland Frost, 1st Lt. Laula Middleton, S/Sgt Norris Dickey, S/Sgt William Everard, S/Sgt Stephen Surbaugh, T/Sgt Howard Jenkins

That it was S/Sgt Everard’s first mission since he was shot down last February (actually 28 Jan 43) didn’t help. (but five months later no other word has come of the crew)

Five ME-109’s continued after the remaining two. The 20 minute running dog fight that ensued is a saga of the B-25 and two magnificent pilots. Captain Helsabeck and his wing pilot, Lt. Wheeler maneuvered and teamed their fire power that S/Sgt Kirkland was able to shoot another down, damage another, with S/Sgt Davis’s help and never sustain a hole therefore. It was an amazing performance--not another bomber in the world could have accomplished it. The A-20 might have more maneuverability but it doesn’t have the quality of discouraging fire power.

One merchant vessel was seen to be burning, a stream of black smoke was pouring from the second. Intense, inaccurate light flak, and moderate heavy flak, inaccurate as to range, belched forth from the vessels at the target.

428th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 14581: Interrogation reports indicate at least three (3) parachutes seen. No search was conducted.

A/C B-25C; Serial No. 41-13048; MACR-14581; mid air collision with ME-109; All 6 crew ~ KIA

P Middleton, Laula M., 1Lt - MIA, DED
CP Frost, Roland (NMI), 1Lt - MIA, DED
N None
B Surbaugh, Steven G., S/Sgt - MIA, DED
E None
R Everard, William J., S/Sgt - MIA, DED
G Dickey, Norris D. “Pop”, S/Sgt - MIA, DED
F Jenkins, Howard L. “Larry”, T/Sgt - MIA, DED

5 June 1945
MISSING AIR CREW REPORT AIRCRAFT NUMBER - 41-13048
PILOT - 1st Lt. Laula M. Middleton ASN - 0-660174

Par. 15 - Description of Circumstances Pertaining to Missing Aircraft.

On April 4, 1943, the 428th Bombardment Squadron, 310th Bombardment Group (M), had six (6) aircraft on a sea search mission. An enemy convoy was sighted and a bombing run was made. The first element did not drop their bombs because there was a hospital ship passing through the convoy. This element then circled and made a second run on the target. Enemy aircraft were making attacks during this time. One was shot down and the pilot was seen to bail out. The second enemy aircraft made a pass and came straight on through the element. As he passed through the element he struck aircraft number 41-13048 and tore off part of the wing. Aircraft number 41-13048 then went into a spin and crashed in the water. Three parachutes were seen to open before the plane crashed.

KILMER H. EPPERSON, Lt Col., Air Corps, Commanding

++++++++++

The entire Crew of 6 was officially declared Dead, 1 year and 1 day later, on 05 April 1944.

Laula M Middleton