Memorial

More information

Sgt David W. O'Brien graduated from the Academy in 1936. He was a prolific American writer whose first story was "Truth is a Plague!" (February 1940 'Amazing Stories' Magazine) and he published almost entirely for the Ziff-Davis magazines 'Amazing Stories' and 'Fantastic Adventures' from early 1940 onward.

#2 Engine started to throw oil just before reaching the target. Feathered #2 engine after bombs away. Then #1 engine ran away and after some difficulty with it, it was finally feathered. Also not drawing full power on #3 engine. Losing about 300 feet per minute at this time. Jettisoned all equipment. Trying to make Liege, but realized that they couldn´t; so they bailed out on Pilot´s orders at 5015N-0620E at approximately 1410 hours. Aircraft was flying on about 20 degree right bank at 2,000 feet. Visibility about 200 yards, ceiling 200 feet. Flying on W-NW heading of approximately 290 degrees. The Top Turret Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator, Tail Gunner and Ball Turret Gunner got out and are now back. The Left Waist Gunner was seen to get out but no definite information is known pertaining to his present status. The returned crew members do not know what happened to the Pilot, Co-Pilot and Togglier. However, they think that these three should have had time to bail out. The returned crew members landed within a mile of each other and right in our front lines. 1st Army Troops picked them up immediately and they were flown back to Aldermaston, England in a C-47 from an A/D 3 or 4 miles NW of Liège on 13 December 1944.