Memorial

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Albert Miles worked on a farm.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort MacArthur, California, on 18 September 1940.

Statement of 2nd Lt Joseph R. Boland, who flew in the same mission: "On 22 January 1945, I was flying #4 position in a flight of four airplanes led by Maj Albert E. Miles. We were bombing and strafing a marshalling yard at Neus, Germany. On the second strafing run, I followed Maj Miles on the run. I watched him break left after his pass at the target, and a few seconds later he reported that his engine had been hit and asked someone to determine whether or not his engine was on fire. At the time of his transmission, I was right behind him. I immediately pulled up in tight formation and looked over his airplane. He had a large hole on the left side of the cowl, immediately in front of the cowl flaps. This hole was streaming oil and a stream which looked to be either gasoline or water. At this time the major was told by "Rosalee", the Ground Control Station, that he was 15 miles in enemy territory. The Major at this time was flying on a course of 240 degrees. He reported that his oil pressure was zero and told me to move out as he was going to bail out. Shortly after, his engine quit and I could not hold formation with him, so I did a tight 360 degree and was pulling up on his wing when I saw his plane do a 90 degree wing over from 1,800 feet altitude. I followed the plane down as low as possible and observed something hanging from the tail on the left side by a harness. The airplane crashed and exploded. I circled to the left and noticed tracer bullets bouncing up near the wreck, and saw that the gunfire was coming from a nearby flak tower. I did a 270 degree and strafed the tower. I went back to the wreck and observed no further gunfire from the flak tower. No parachute was observed, although I circled for at least five minutes. I took up a heading of 240 degrees and headed back for my base."

Statement of 1st Lt Vernon L. Zieske, who flew in the same mission: "On 22 January 1945, at approximately 1345 hours, I was flying in the third position in a flight of four airplanes led by Maj Albert E. Miles, Commanding Officer, 23rd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group. We were bombing and strafing a marshalling yard at Neuss, Germany. On the second strafing run, I followed Maj Miles in on the run. I watched him break left after his pass at the target and a few seconds later he reported that his engine had been hit, and he asked someone to determine whether or not the engine was on fire. At the time of his radio transmission, I was about two miles behind him. As I pulled up into formation with him, I attempted to get a fix from the Ground Control Station (Rosalee) and after about a half-minute, they reported us to be approximately five miles inside enemy lines. I reported this to the Maj by radio, and he replied that his oil pressure had given out and that he was bailing out. I pulled away and up while watching his airplane. He held a straight southwesterly course for approximately fifteen seconds and the airplane rolled over on his back, and in two or three seconds the airplane hit the ground and exploded. I observed no parachute. The time was approximately 1350 hours and the airplane crashed from 1,000 to 1,500 feet altitude just northwest of the town of Wanlo, Germany."

Maj Miles' remains were found in the wreckage.