Memorial

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S/Sgt Norval S. Gibbs:

"We began our bomb run and dropped our bombs. Number five ship (44-10623) of our flight, flown by 2nd Lt Jack G. Holtz, flying behind me, dropped their bombs about five seconds after us. About ten seconds later, two bombs fell from a flight passing over us. One of them narrowly missed our ship and the second one hit number five ship, going through the wing unexploded, between number two engine and the fuselage, about two feet from the leading edge of the wing. Gas and oil began to bubble out of the hole in the wing and the ship aborted, making a hundred and eighty degree turn. Apparently the pilot had full control of the ship. There was no smoke or fire visible and no parachutes left the aircraft before it disappeared into a cloud bank."

S/Sgt Harry L. Billings:

"S/Sgt Pearce put on his chute, opened the bomb bay doors and bailed out without hitting a part of the airplane. I did not see the chute open. He had a very frigate red look on his face. Either his chute did not function properly or German civilians killed him. His chute had gotten crushed by his turret on the mission before, he mentioned to me that he must get another one. I don't know if he did this or not."