Memorial

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Roy Fling graduated from East Texas State Teachers College in 1941.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army as an aviation cadet in Dallas, Texas, on 27 September 1941. He was sent overseas in April 1944.

Statement of 2nd Lt Cameron M. Hart, who flew in the same flight and witnessed what happened:
"I spotted a convoy due west of Hulst and was told by Capt Fling to lead off on it. I made a pass and pulled up. No one was following me. I joined up with another flight and continued to make passes on the convoy. When I was down to 10 pills, I gave Capt Fling a call, which he acknowledged. I made a few more passes and was down to 6 pills. I called Capt Fling again and told him I was heading out. He acknowledged this call, too.
"Everyone had started out at this time, and I took it for granted Capt Fling was doing likewise. The last radio contact I had with Capt Fling was about 1836 hours as I was about to cross out near Knokke."

According to the MACR, Capt Fling's plane was last seen in the vicinity of the position of the target, as described in the statement of Lt Hart.

The report also holds a document of the German authorities who found the crashed plane in Etten-Leur, without the pilot on board. After further research, a connection could be made with MACR 8685 about the crash of the P-47 with serial number 42-8575, piloted by 2nd Lt Everett A. Henderson. This airplane belonged to the same squadron and crashed at Etten-Leur.

Both MACRs contain a document stating the exact same location and time for the crash. However, this is not possible.

Furthermore, Lt Cameron had radio contact with Capt Fling after the attack on the convoy in Hulst when they returned to their base together near Knokke, Belgium. It can therefore be assumed that Capt Fling most likely crashed in the Westerschelde estuary as a result of flak hits.

Capt Fling is remembered at Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce, Hunt County, Texas, with a memorial marker.