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1st Lt Malcolm Rawls graduated from Troy State Teachers College. He taught Civics, Math and History at Union Springs High School.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Montgomery, Alabama on 5 November 1941. He was sent overseas in October 1942.

According to crew members of other airplane in the group, the aircraft was badly damaged by enemy fighters. All crew members bailed out about 10 minutes away from the target area into the North Sea. Some of them landed on Alte Mellum Island. Other landed in the water south of the island. As these parachutes were descending, two enemy aircraft were seen making two attacks each on the parachutes.

Statement of the Navigator, Lt Robert J. Walker, who survived the mission:
"We were coming home from Wilhelmshaven when the ship was badly shot up by German fighters. Shortly after several attacks on us, the ship was shot up so badly that we all had to bail out, in spite of the fact that we were out a bit over the North Sea. We all came down in the vicinity of Alte Mellum island, but into the water. Sgt Klug and I were the first two picked up by a ship headed for Helgoland - and we were the only survivors. Apparently all others drowned, or died from exposure in that frigid water before rescuers found them."

Eight crew members were killed, two men survived and were taken prisoner.

According to a German document, Lt Rawls was killed on Helgoland, Germany. Most likely, his body washed ashore on this island. He was initially buried at the local cemetery on 24 March 1943.