Memorial

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Lt Lyle E. Day, surviving Bombardier, states in his letter to the family of S/Sgt Sheeley:
"On 7 July the crew was on the 19th mission. As they crossed the enemy-held coast of Holland, they were met by light but accurate flak. Several trips previous over the same area had shown this area to be flak free; however, mobile flak batteries had been moved in. Several ships were hit and forced to turn back; we were untouched. On the way to the target, we were fired on several times by flak.

We reached the initial point and started our bomb run; we were in extremely intense and accurate flak along the bomb run. The flak was both predicted and barrage. We received a few pieces of flak in the wings, but no one was hurt. A few seconds after I dropped bombs, enemy fighters were reported. Then our gunners called fighters from most every position. As I watched our bombs land squarely on the target, the fighters attacked. Incendiary bullets caused a raging fire in my compartment. While I was fighting the fire, our gunners called, "Fighters," and they were all firing.

The last I heard from Bill was, "Fighters at 6 o'clock!" Then his guns fired a long burst. He called, "Fighters" again and fired again. About 2 passes later I could hear 20 mm shells bursting inside our plane. Then our ship went into an immediate spin.

No effort was made to control the ship. This causes me to be positive that Lt Smiley and Lt Ochs were both killed instantly. If either of the two were wounded, he would have attempted to control the ship; however, no attempt was made. I'm positive, in my own mind, that both died a quick and merciful death, I had heard both talking just before the last pass; neither had been wounded then.

Our ship was hit about 5 to 10 miles from the target. Centrifugal force caused by the spin held me in the fire. After a turn or two, the gas tanks exploded and blew me out of the bombing window. Then I chuted into Germany and prison.

In the city of Magdeberg, I met Sgt Wirt Young. He could give me no more information on the rest of the crew, except for Bill whose dog tags had been shown to him by the Germans who told him that he was dead. Sgt Young did not know if that was in fact true or if the Germans were merely taunting him for information. Now, in 1945, I have come to realize that the Germans were telling Sgt Young the truth. I'm sorry to say that as far as I know to date, Sgt Young and I are the only survivors. If our plane had not blown up, we wouldn't be alive today."