Dolphus R. Dawson, II
475th Fighter Group (475th FG), 431st Fighter Squadron (431st)
P-38 Lightning Pilot

Background
Dolphus Ransome Dawson, II was born December 25, 1915 in Kingston, North Carolina. He didn't go by Junior he used II (the second). He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet and attended advance flight training at Luke Field, Arizona class 42-G, graduated on July 26, 1942 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) as a fighter pilot.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades" as a fighter pilot flying the P-38 Lightning and began flying combat missions in February 1943. Later, promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

On December 4, 1943 took off piloting P-38H "Japanese Sandman II" 42-66905 on a training mission when he suffered mechanical difficulties and force landing unhurt.

After his tour of duty, Dawson was sent back to the United States and based at Rosecrans Field in Missouri and assigned to Air Transport Command (ATC) for advanced pilot training. On July 6, 1945 married Anna Eleanor Lang.

Postwar
He joined the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and retired with the rank of Major. Then got a PhD and was a Econ Professor and rancher. He passed away in 1995. His children are Anita Armold, Danielle Neal, Kari Dawson-Ekeland and Dolphus R. Dawson III.

Awards
Dawson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal for missions between February 5, 1943–August 26, 1943 totaling more than one hundred hours) and the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal and American Defense Medal.

Relatives
Anita Armold (daughter)
Danielle Neal (daughter)
Kari Dawson-Ekeland (daughter)
Dolphus R. Dawson III (son)

Memorial
Dawson passed away on August 21, 1995 at age 79. He is buried at Augusta Cemetery in Augusta, Montana at I4.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dolphus Ransome Dawson
FindAGrave - Dolphus Ransome Dawson (grave photo)
475th Fighter Group Historical Foundation - 431st Hades Fighter Squadron 1st Lt. Dulphus R. Dawson
Thanks to Kari Dawson-Ekeland for additional information