Memorial

More information

2nd Lt Doyce Wade graduated from Kilgore High School and attended Kilgore College.

He enlisted on 24 August 1942 at Tyler, Texas.

"On 11 December 1944, our group was on a mission to bomb the Moosbierbaum Oil Refinery at Vienna, Austria. I was flying as Upper Turret Gunner in ship number 733 in the number one position of the second box in the first attack unit. Lt Berly was flying ship number 42-78454 in the number three position of the second box in the first attack unit. Over the target, the flak was intense and accurate. Lt Berly's aircraft sustained damage due to flak in this area. His aircraft stayed in formation, lost approximately 3,000 feet altitude and leveled off. At this point, he started to lag behind. When I last seen the aircraft, all four engines were operating and was flying at an altitude of approximately 16,000 feet. I saw no parachutes leave the ship. The time was 1325. The coordinates were 47o 14'N-17o33'E".
- Statement of T/Sgt Paul P. Kisinger

2nd Lt Wade bailed out but his ripcord was never pulled. It is believed that while bailing out he hit his head and got unconscious.