Memorial

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Statement of 2nd Lt Herdman S. Porter, O-813057:
“Ship 877 was hit on first or second attack. A 20mm went through left wing, outboard of #1 engine. 877 flew in his position for about ten (10) minutes, then peeled off to the right, apparently under control.
About a minute after that, the left wing buckled and fire started at the trailing edge. A few seconds thereafter, the wing section broke off and the ship went into a steep spiral to the left out of control. Seven chutes were seen by my crew members.”

Statement of 2nd Lt Harry Avery, pilot of A/C 42-37877:
“Our plane was hit by enemy fighter action, caught on fire and blew up on mid-air. After plane was hit I gave orders for men to put chutes on and bail out. The navigator and I say two bodies on ground without chutes which evidently were blown out of plane. Our navigator recognized clothing on one of the bodies to be that of bombardier's (2nd Lt Stewart). I believe that the other body was subject's (S/Sgt Mc Ilroy)."

At the moment that the airplane blew up, S/Sgt Mc Ilroy was still on board. His body was found with his parachute blown off.