Memorial

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Statement from 1st Lt. J.W. Parsons, navigator of another airplane of the same squadron:
"Six minutes before the drop, pilot notified the navigator that Lt Parsons' aircraft was on fire. Navigator looked through astrodome at aircraft afire. It was at five o’clock slightly above our own plane, flames coming from both engines near the fuselage. It was in a slow-banking turn to the right. Paratroopers emerging from the door, followed shortly by one white parachute. Soon after, still in the turn, three more parachutes (white) followed in quick succession, clearly visible from the point of observation. About five seconds later the last chute appeared, the aircraft went into a steep dive and exploded on the ground. Further observation on the chutes or landings of same were not possible."

Statement Lt. Raymond R. Bedard, crew members of another airplane in the same squadron:
"I heard what I thought was machine gun fire. I looked over in Lt Parsons’ direction and saw his pararacks on fire. Called him and told him his sacks were on fire, and advised him to release them, which he did, and then the troopers bailed out. At that time there was a bit of flame in the cabin just behind the trailing edge of the wing and noticed one white chute leaving the plane.
Aircraft took-off on course about 15 degrees off our course in level flight. Then started a slow bank, gradually steepening until diving into the ground. Ship exploded as our ship passed out of sight. The plane was completely on fire except for the left wing and crashed at 1310 hours at Rethy, Belgium. Two crew members, S/Sgt. Reginald P. O’Connor and T/Sgt. Arthur W. Humble and all paratroopers bailed out. O’Connor and Humble believed that the Pilot, 1st Lt Parsons and Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Richard Anderson either went down with the plane or didn’t have time to bail out due to the plane being on fire."

The airplane carried eighteen members of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, who managed to jump.

Two crew members were killed. The other two crew members survived.

Lt Parsons was initially buried by the British Army 3 miles east of Retie in the woods about 60 yards from a track on 2 October 1944.