Memorial

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Paul H. Hyde Jr. graduated from Deerfield Academy, Massachusetts and from Williams College in 1941.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Buffalo, New York, on 2 July 1941, immediately after his graduation.

He was promoted to Captain on 1 August 1943.

Statement from F/O Robert S. Alexander, who flew in the same mission: "Our squadron was flying to rendezvous point. I was flying White #2, the wing of Capt P. H. Hyde, Jr., White #1. We broke through the overcast before we hit the enemy coast, in the vicinity of De Helder, flying a course of 80°, and still climbing at a height of 25,000 feet. At approximately 1115 hours, I noticed a B-24 approaching from about 1 o'clock, 200 or 300 feet below, apparently being attacked by a P-47 from the rear. About 800 yards before it reached us, it started a gentle turn to the starboard, and at about 300 yards, it pulled up sharply in front of our formation and straight into Capt Hyde. I saw the B-24 pull up, and I pulled back on the control sharply, thus avoiding collision with the B-24. Between the time the B-24 pulled up and hit Capt Hyde, I had no time to warn him. There was a terrific explosion and a tremendous cloud of black smoke and flame. The B-24 was missing its port wing from inboard of the inboard engine and was cartwheeling down when I last saw it. All I could see of Capt. Hyde's ship was the motor with prop intact and approximately 4 to 6 feet of fuselage attached to the motor. It made a gentle spiral dive down. The B-24 hit Capt Hyde with the port wing, approximately where the leading edge of the starboard wing joins the fuselage. No chutes were seen to open from either plane. Neither plane was seen to make evasive action to avoid collision."

The B-24, with which Capt Hyde collided, had serial number 42-63964. The entire crew of nine men survived and were taken prisoner.