Memorial

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The mission took place on 17 April 1945.

Statement of 1st Lt Donald N. Mercer, who took part in the same mission: "At about 0845 hours on 17 April 1945 I was leading the element in Capt Francis' flight on a squadron mission in the vicinity of Riesa, Germany. The flight went down to strafe an enemy airfield. Capt Francis' airplane was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire. He called me on the radio to look at his plane and said that the cockpit was full of smoke. I flew over and examined the airplane. It was smoking and about two minutes later the cockpit burst into flames. I called Capt Francis and told him to bail out. He left the ship at about 3000 feet and the parachute opened but I lost him in the haze before he reached the ground.

He suffered severe burns in the crash. He made it to the nearest farm. The farmer's wife bandaged his wounds and gave him something to drink. Then he was picked up by German soldiers. It is to be assumed that he was taken to the nearest hospital in Großenhain, Germany.

On 20 April 1945, Großenhain received an evacuation order due to the approaching front. Hospitals and medical facilities also left Großenhain. Eight graves were found in the garden of the hospital. The names of the dead are all unknown at that time. They were later reburied in the cemetery of Ehrenhain, Germany.