1st Lt Roland W. Moody
January 4, 1923 – March 29, 1945
Class: 44-D-SE
Graduation Date: April 15, 1944
Graduation Rank: 1st Lt
Unit: 332nd Fighter Group, 301st Fighter Squadron
Service # O-828054
Roland was born in 1923. He was the son of Oliver Moody and Grace West and grew up in Cambridge, Mass. He attended the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and went onto Northeastern University. He and his younger brother, Paul, enlisted together in October of 1942. They entered the Tuskegee Air Pilot Institute and both were awarded wings and a 2nd lieutenant commission in May of 1944. Roland was assigned overseas with the 301st Fighter Squadron, 322nd Fighter Group, based out of Ramitelli Air Field in Italy.
He was tragically killed when an external fuel tank fell from a taxiing aircraft burst into flames near the tent he was occupying. He died from injuries sustained from extreme burns. His death is considered to be accidental by injury.
Moody is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Italy.
According to a government database, Moody was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and a Purple Heart for his military service.
Sources:
HonorStates.org
Saint Louis Daily Dispatch
WikiTree.com
