Memorial

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S/Sgt Arthur Carl attended high school for 4 years before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Chicago, Illinois on 19 October 1942.

2nd Lt Thomas R. Kelly:

I observed B-17 No. 42-31459 leave the formation, gaining speed and forging ahead, in course but in a gradual decent. While on this course, I observed five parachutes open, the last three coming from the nose hatch. During this time, blue smoke was coming out of number two engine. B-17 No. 459 was on this course for about eight minutes before it crashed into the mountain. At the time it crashed into the mountain, it was flying level and straight. I believe it was on AFCE. About two minutes before the crash, number two engine fell off. It was at 1318 hrs. When B-17 No. 459 crashed into the mountain. On its gradual level descent, P-38’s were following B-17 No. 459 down and circled a couple of time after the aircraft crashed. All the crew members who were able to bail out had plenty of time to do so.

S/Sgt Joseph P. Gaby:

He was standing in the ship waiting to bail out. Then we were hit with machine gun fire and he fell with the other members. The ship started in a spin and I bailed out of my escape hatch in the tail.