Thomas Edward Maloney

Thomas Edward Maloney was born in Cushing, Oklahoma, on 21 March 1923. With high academic achievement, he graduated in 1940 from Cushing High School.  After one year at Northwest Missouri Teachers College, Maloney enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June 1941, hoping to earn an appointment to West Point.

Maloney was selected for flight training and graduated in July 1943 as a Second Lieutenant. His skill in the Lockheed P-38 Lightning landed him in North Africa assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron. By 31 May 1944, 21-year-old 2LT Maloney became an Ace downing his fifth enemy aircraft. He was selected to be the 27th’s Operations officer, and, coincidentally, received an appointment to West Point. Believing he was needed, he stayed to complete his tour.       

On the day of the invasion of Southern France, 15 August 1944, Maloney’s 60th mission destroyed two enemy aircraft; now crediting him with eight, the highest in the 27th. For his 64th mission on 19 August, near Avignon, France, he successfully destroyed an enemy supply train, however, damage to his P-38 forced a landing into the Mediterranean. He made it to the beach unharmed, but Maloney stepped on a German mine severely injuring both legs. After an excruciating 10 days, he was found by the friendly French. By October 1944 he was in McCloskey General Hospital, Temple, Texas, where he took his first steps a year later. Medically retired in 1947, Maloney enrolled at Oklahoma State University earning a degree in accounting. He later started Sabre Drilling Company in Cushing, Oklahoma, becoming a successful businessman and community leader. 

In addition to being an Air Ace, Major Maloney received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, and was inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation & Space Hall of Fame in 1992. Maloney passed in 2008 and now rests in Harrell Cemetery, Cushing, Oklahoma.