Memorial

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Martin E. Spelts graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1938.

He joined the National Guard in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on 16 September 1940 and was sent overseas on 23 September 1943.

The airplane was shot down by enemy fighter aircraft.

According to the only survivor, Tail Gunner S/Sgt Richard A. Mayhew, the plane came apart at the waist in the air. It was on fire after it hit the ground. He believed two men were in the plane when it hit the ground, although he only had seen two parachutes.

He recalled also: "As we approached the target again, Lt Spelts called the bombardier, telling him that we were on course, and he should open the bomb bay doors and take over the ship. The bombardier then said, 'We are on target! Bombs away.' At that moment I saw five or so Focke-Wulf fighters, or as we called them 'Goering's Yellow Bellies,' chasing in. I yelled, 'Fighters! Fighters! Six o’clock low.' The sound of their gunfire rang through the aircraft from the under side. The ball turret gunner, Sgt Reedy screamed, 'I’m hit. I’m hit.' The fighters passed and made a curve to the right and returning from above, gave fire, which killed our top turret gunner, S/Sgt Hall, the radioman yelled, 'Hydraulic fluid is spraying over my face.' Then the navigator, Lt Goodnow, said, 'I’m hit. The bombardier is dead. My God, we’re going down.' Lt Spelts’ voice came through, 'Abandon the…' That was all. The radio intercom had gone out. At that time, I looked back into the waist position and saw the gunners, Sgt Gooden and Sgt F. P. Hall, putting on their parachutes."

The other nine crew members were recovered, six as unknown, and were buried at the cemetery of Poix-de-Picardie.