Hugh J. Malone served in the 66th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, Heavy, during World War II. On 3 January 1943, on B-24D #41-23371, while serving as Ball Turret Gunner, the aircraft made a crash-landing near the crossroads south of Little Newcastle, Wales, returning from target U-Boat yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash.

On 1 August 1943, on B-24 #42-40375 "Scrappy II," while serving as Tail Gunner, the aircraft was severely damaged by AA fire while on a mission to bomb the Columbia Aguila oil complex at Ploesti, Romania. The 44th BG was flying out of Bernina, Libya, at that time and was assigned for Temporary Duty (TDY) with the 9th Air Force. The aircraft was set on fire and crashed in a field near Cocoic, Romania. All 9 of the crew were Killed in Action and buried at Cocioc, Romania. After the war, the remains of the pilot, 1Lt Thomas A. Scrivner, were re-interred at the Ardennes American Cemetery. The remains of the other 8 crew, including SSgt Malone, could not be positively identified, but the remains of all 8 were repatriated for group burial at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St Louis, Missouri. Malone attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com