Memorial

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2nd Lt James T. Wood Jr. graduated from the Greencastle High School with the class of 1939. He was employed as a machinist by the Milling Machine Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended evening classes at the University of Cincinnati.

He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at Patterson Field, Ohio, on 29 July 1942.

Lt Wood received his training in Alabama and Florida. He graduated from the twin engines school at Seymour, Indiana. On 30 January 1943 he reported for duty as an aviation cadet at Nashville, Tennessee, and was selected for pilot training in Army Air Forces Class 43-J. He graduated and received his wings and commission at Freeman Field on 3 November 1943.

The aircraft was hit by flak just after bombs away over the target. The right outer wing was lost, and the burning aircraft went into a spin, exploded and crashed in Müritz Lake, north of the target.

Two crew members, 1/Lt Joseph Anderson Duncan and S/Sgt Monroe Stanley Wolyn, survived. Lt Hood's body was never found. The other nine crew members were killed.

The body of T/Sgt Gerard Brown was recovered on the shore of Müritz Lake on 20 September 1944. His remains and those of seven of his crew mates were buried initially at the Cemetery in Retzow, Germany, a short distance north of Rechlin Airfield.