Memorial

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Elton L. Nichols graduated from Ruston High School and was one of the cheerleaders in the pep squad for the football team. He was attending Louisiana Tech when he enlisted in Shreveport, Louisiana on 20 July 1943.

According to a witness statement of the top turret gunner, S/Sgt Gerard J. Perry, after the war, the airplane's right rudder was disabled, and it went into a spin. He picked up his parachute and went into the bomb bay to salvo the bombs, of which some couldn't be salvoed. He was then thrown around by the pitching of the plane until he became unconscious, either from injury or lack of oxygen. The next thing he remembered was that he was parachuting to safety. He didn't remember leaving the plane. While parachuting down there was a B-24 burning which seemed to follow him, but he couldn't see the number or the name of it, but it felt to be his plane. He didn't know anything about the other crew members.

According to crew members of other airplanes, this B-24 was hit by an enemy jet fighter when it approached the bomb run and immediately went out of control. Other witnesses saw two B-24s colliding, probably with airplane #42-51247.

Three men survived and were taken prisoner. Six were killed.