Memorial

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Statement of surviving crew member, Sgt Bridges:
"I know, or rather guess, that Capt Gentry tried to land the plane even though seriously wounded and near death. Because just before I passed out, a terrific explosion took place in front of plane."

Extract of the Group's history:
"The last wave of aircraft over target "White Five" consisted of four airplanes led by Rowland M. Gentry in FORKY II. His orders were to bomb from 400 feet at the top of the stepped up formation that had been adopted for the five "Eight Ball" waves. The last wave was well exposed to the German gunners. Gentry led a V-flight with a plane piloted by Charles Hughes and Spence S. Hunn on his left and one piloted by George Winger on his right.
In the target smoke, explosions killed two gunners and set two of FORKY II's engines on fire. Sgt E. C. Light, in the top turret, and the right waist gunner, Charles T. Bridges, remained in action.

On the other side of the target, three German fighters came up at them from the deck. Bridges, the veteran of 53 missions, many with the Royal Air Force, got in his last rounds of battle. The fighters left FORKY II burning in a cornfield with the nose buried in the ground and the tail standing. Bridges staggered out of the wreck as it exploded!"

Sgt. Bridges added, "We attacked at low level, gun fire, explosions and all the horrors hidden in Hell were let loose. My crew was shot to bits. First it was Gentry, and then two others. We kept on going after bombing, but after attacks by enemy aircraft, we were shot down, too. My crew fought most valiantly against all odds, and died as men."