Loss of Molesworth WWII Leader: 303rd Bomb Group Commander Maj. Gen. Lewis E. Lyle

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park, JAC Commander's Action Group
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
ROYAL AIR FORCE MOLESWORTH, England --  The flag of the United States and the ensign of the Royal Air Force flew at half-staff over RAF Molesworth, England on April 8, 2008 in honor of Air Force Major General Lewis Elton Lyle, an exemplary leader of the 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) at Molesworth during World War II.

The general died on April 6, 2008 and the flying of the flag coincided with a memorial service in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The flags symbolized the gratitude of both the United States and the United Kingdom for his service here.

"The officer who most typified the spirit of the 303rd Bomb Group was (then) Lt. Col Lewis Lyle. He was both colorful and controversial, a highly visible individual .... Lyle was one hell of a flier. At Molesworth he had a 'razorback' P-47 fighter [used to check the integrity of the formations of B-17s] which he flew like a madman, cutting daises as he flew low over the field, then zooming up and doing one roll after the other in sheer exuberance .... By the end of the war he had probably flown more 'hairy' combat missions than any officer in the group but seemed to thrive on them as he was a born warrior and a leader of men" (From the 1983 Book "Chicks Crew" by Ben Smith who also served with the 303rd)."

At a time when the odds of B-17 aircrew completing the required 25 missions (later extended to 30 and finally 35 missions) was quite low, General Lyle flew 70 combat missions over the toughest targets including Berlin. He was one of the original members of the 303rd arriving at this base in October 1942.

Two months later he was commander of the 360th Bomb Squadron and by June 1943 had become Group Air Executive. From September to October 1944 he was acting commander of the 303rd before being promoted to Colonel and taking command of the nearby 379th Bomb Group at Kimbolton and a year later becoming commander of the 41st Combat Bomb Wing which included the 303rd.

General Lyle continued in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U. S. Air Force after the war, retiring in 1967 as a major general. He had an extensive career with Northeast Airlines and in real estate after his military service and is credited as the one of the prime movers for establishment of the Eighth Air Force Heritage Center in Savannah, Georgia.

The flag flown over Molesworth is being sent to Mrs. Betty Lyle with a letter of condolence from the JAC Commander, Colonel Peter H. Devlin on behalf of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and civilians who serve in the General's legacy at Molesworth today.  The flag may be used at a later inurnment being planned at Arlington National Cemetery.