Memorial

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Francis W. Costley was a graduate of Senior High school with the class of '41. He also attended Junior college for one and a half years where he was president of the MD club, before enlisting with the air forces in June, 1942. He reported for duty and basic training at Miami Beach February 1. Transferring from there for two months instruction at James Millikin university, Decatur, Ill., he was then sent to the west coast, to Santa Ana, Cal., for classification. He received his navigator's wings and second lieutenant's commision in March at Hondo army air field in Texas. He was stationed somewhere in England when reported missing.

100 to 150 E/A attacked our formation from 6 o'clock. They came in about 10 to 15 abreast and there were about 6 rows. B-24's were going down all around and it was impossible to state which was which. Many parachutes were seen in the area. Many of the planes were seen going down in flames.
I saw Lt Costley jump, but I was unable to see whether his parachute opened or not.