Memorial

More information

Freeland M. Tharp volunteered for the Army of the United States in June 1942 and was sent overseas in August 1944.

He was wounded in January 1945 for which he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal a first time.

The pilot of the airplane survived the crashlanding and gave the following statement on 18 April 1945: 'As I was preparing for a second run on the target at Dinslaken, Germany, a burst of flak exploded beneath and to the rear of my right nacelle. The left fuel pressure dropped off to zero immediately. I tried all gas combinations but with no success, so I feathered the left propeller. My airspeed had fallen to 150 miles per hour, and I was losing altitude which caused me to recheck my fuel pressure. All possible efforts were made to keep the one engine operating to maintain my altitude, but I continued to lose altitude.

'After calling "Parado" for an emergency heading, I called my gunner, S/Sgt Freeland M. Tharp, to notify him to prepare to bail out, for I realized that the second engine was definitely out, and feathered that propeller. I was at approximately 8,000 feet and losing altitude at the rate of 2,000 feet per minute with both propellers feathered.

Sgt Tharp made an unsuccessful effort to salvo the bombs. Simultaneously a second call was made to "Parado" to learn whether or not I was over the bomb line. No definite information was received. Another effort was made from the cockpit to salvo the bombs but nothing happened. With bomb bay doors opened in the normal manner, Sgt Tharp was unable to release physically any of the bombs, and consequently he was not able to leave the plane from the normal escape exit through the bomb bay. It was necessary the jettison his top hatch. At approximately 3,700 feet indicated, I ordered Sgt Tharp to leave the airplane. His acknowledgement was the last word I received from him. At about 3,200 feet I felt something strike the empennage, whether it was he I could not say.
I ordered Sgt Tharp to leave his airplane approximately three and one-half minutes after I rolled out on my emergency leading of 223 degrees as briefed. This time allotment I judged would bring us safely across the Rhine River at about 3,500 feet indicated, although I was unable to see the ground due to heavy layer of smoke. It is my belief that Sgt Tharp bailed out in our territory, and that he received no injury as a result of the flak burst.

I proceeded to crash land about one minute and forty seconds later, recieving a severe scalp laceration. My immediate removal the the 113th Evacuation Hospital by first aid men who rushed to the scene of the crash, prevented me from personally conducting a search for the gunner".