Memorial

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Sgt Robert E. Lary a stock clerk before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on 2 December 1942.

Sgt Paul E. Brenneman:
"The last I remember of seeing plane #32097 was before and right after the target. After leaving the target, plane #32097 pulled to altitude, approximately 500 feet above formation and approximately 500 feet to the left. After dropping their bombs, they closed their bomb bay doors about one third of the way and seemed to lose altitude and drift away from the formation. The last I saw of plane #32097 was when it was flying along just above the clouds, apparently O.K. We were jumped by fighters at this time and I lost track of it. I do know, however, that a B-17 which might possibly have been #32097, as it was straggling behind the formation, was hit by fighters and exploded in the air behind us. It was too far away for me to know whether it was plane #32097 or not".

2nd Lt Ward S. Randolph:
"He warned of the approach of enemy fighters. I think they made short work of him, because Ruster told me he had lost the tail control surfaces".