Memorial

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Sgt States W. Viar:

On 25 December 1944, our group was on a mission to bomb the marshalling Yards at Innsbruck, Austria. I was flying as right waist gunner in the lead aircraft of the formation. Lt Fagan was flying aircraft 42-78256 in the number two position in the first box of the first attack unit. Over the target, the flak was moderate and accurate. Over the target Lt Fagan’s aircraft was damaged by flak and his number one engine began to smoke. The ship dropped down about two hundred feet below the formation. At this time, the number two engine started to smoke. After leaving the target, the formation made a 360 turn in order to let the balance of the formation catch up. As the formation began to make the turn, Lt Fagan’s aircraft left the formation to the right. When I last saw the aircraft, both engines were smoking. The ship was flying at approximately twenty two thousand feet, under control and gradually losing altitude. The time was 1140. I did not see any parachutes leave the aircraft.

Swiss troops said he went down in the river and drowned.

2nd Lt Nicholas Mackoul was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Münsingen, Switzerland.