Memorial

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S/Sgt James F. Tharp:

On 25 February 1945, our group was on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Linz, Austria. I was flying as tail gunner ship number 770 in the lead position of the second box in the second attack unit. Lt O’Sullivan was pilot of B-24J number 44-41188 in number two position of the same box. Just before bombs away Lt O’Sullivans aircraft received a direct flak hit on the nose of the aircraft. The ship slid back, appeared to be cut of control, to the left and almost hit the aircraft flying number six but Lt O’Sullivan managed to get control of the aircraft and peeled out of the formation to the left, and out of my line of vision. When I last saw this aircraft, all four engines were operating, the ship was under control, and there was a large gap on the left side of the nose which was smoking. The altitude was twenty-four thousand feet. The time was 1914. I saw no parachutes leave the aircraft.

2nd Lt Gordon was killed in the nose compartment.