Memorial

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Floyd Addy graduated from Colusa High School and attended Santa Maria Junior College.

He joined the Air Corps in March 1943 and received his wings in August 1943.

According to the MACR and the mission reports of the 493rd Bomber Group, the mission of that day was bombing the air base of Laon-Athies. At the same moment also the air base of Chièvres, Belgium was attacked. Presumably, this plane was part of the group that attacked Chièvres, given the place where it crashed.

The aircraft suffered a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire over the target which disabled two engines. Another burst of flak put a third engine out and damaged the plane so a crash landing was impossible. Realizing that the airplane was too badly damaged to return to England, Lt Addy ordered his crewmen to abandon the aircraft. Upon attempting to make his own escape, Lt Addy noticed that the crippled aircraft was heading for the Belgian village of Wodecq. With utter disregard for personal safety, Lt Addy returned to the controls and attempted a crash landing outside the village, however the plane was too severely damaged and, in the ensuing crash, Lt Addy lost his life.

For this action Lt Addy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously.

The other nine crew members managed to bail out. Three were taken prisoner, four evaded capture.

Lt Addy was overseas for only one month when he was killed on his third mission.

He was initially buried by the Germans at the air base of Chièvres on 15 June 1944. The villagers of Wodecq declared a day of mourning to remember this brave pilot who saved their village.

On 8 September 2012 a monument was revealed at the crash site.