Memorial

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Statement from 1st Lt. Firman E. Susank, Pilot.
"While on a flight over Wiener-Neustadt, 10 May 1944, Blue L for Love was flying #5 position in the high box of the lead attack unit, and our crew in Blue I for Item in #6 position. While we were in the midst of enemy fire, the number 1, 2 and 3 of the high box were knocked out of formation, leaving numbers 4, 5 and 6 information. At approximately 12:12 hours, Blue L, piloted by Lt. William P. Gifford, started slipping down and to the left toward our position with the bomb bay doors open and flames covering the inside. Immediately we went, into a steep dive to avoid being hit and lost about 500 or 1000 feet. The last any of the officers saw of the plane it passed just over the top of our plane from right to left and was in a dive apparently entirely out of control. The bombardier and navigator did not see the plane while it was in danger".

Of the 10 crew members, S/Sgt. Harry P. Hoyer, Sgt. Lucian R. Walters, Sgt. Vergil P. Kurtenbach, S/Sgt. Vincent L. Healey and S/Sgt. Donald M. Eggleston were killed and recovered from the plane and buried at the cemetery Lichtenwoerth.