Memorial

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On 9 November 1944, I was leading the 508th Fighter Squadron on a dive bombing mission. The target was northeast of the Koln area. After dive bombing and straffing the target, I made an orbit and picked up the squadron and set course for base. I was flying on a heading of nearly 260 degrees over a broken overcast at ten thousand feet. Near the Aachen area Roselie warned us that bandits were following us and that they were above a thin overcast about fourteen thousand feet. I made one orbit to pick up the squadron in pansy formation and to lock around before letting down through a solid overcast. Red flight was laging slightly as we entered the overcast. At six thousand feet I found a hole and made one more orbit, but due to the poor visibility was unable to see the other flights. I continued letting down and broke out over Aachen at nine hundred feet, but due to the snow, visibility was very poor. I called the base homing station and asked for the weather and one steer. After a few minutes had elapsed I heard Roselie give Granite Red leader a steer to the base (Captain Johnson was Granite Red leader). I landed at the home base with two men missing, but at no time throughout the mission did I hear anyone say they were in trouble.
Statement from Robert J. Garrigan, Major, Air Corps, Commanding.