Memorial

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Statement from 2nd Lt Joseph J. Chapas, Navigator:
"Sgt Joe bailed out first followed by myself and then Lt Mullen and Lt Paxton. Paxton bailed out a good minute or so after we did and said the ship was in a vertical dive. A/C was never seen to strike the ground. Lt Paxton told me he believed the ship had blown up shortly after he left it as he believed he saw pieces of the ship falling around him. I believe the same, as we bailed out at 22,000 and although I looked all around for the plane and other crew members, I saw neither. Believe O'Connor was killed by enemy action. Others were O.K. when last heard from over the interphone. If the A/C struck the ground, six were in it."

Statement from Karl Scharl, Chief of Rural Police and Post Commander:
"As already reported on 25 February 1944 at 1235 hours by air flight in territory of Bonbruck, a 4 motor U.S.A. Bomber was shot down which crashed in Hauslweid near Bodenkirchen/district of Vilsbiburg. In my report of 26 February 1944 was mentioned, that under the debris of the crashed plane was found a buried member of the crew. The body of this American was recovered on 29 February 1944 and on 1 March 1944 buried in the cemetery fo Bodenkirchen." On this deceased could not be found an identification nor a pass. The clothing was entirely burned and the body charred. The search for the identification tag was without results. Sgt O'Connor didn´t bail out. At around 1215 he was reported by Sgt Alexander as lying on the floor of the plane after being hit by bullets from enemy fighters. Sgt Alexander also stated that he was not moving and believed him to be dead. Sgt Greenwood also reported the same thing."

Three deceased crew members were recovered, Sgt Charles H. Alexander and 2 unidentified. Sgt Alexander was initially buried on 29 February 1944 in Bronbruck, the two other unknown soldiers in the Cemetery Bodenkirchen.

Sgt Alexander had bailed out and was found 4 Km North of the crash with a gun shot wound in the breast. He as buried without identification tags of passport papers. Those items were sent to the Air Base Command Straubling.

His remains were recovered early July 1945 and transported to the American Military Cemetery of Lorraine, France where they were buried as "unknown". Again, his remains were disinterred and transported to Ardennes Cemetery on 22 June 1948 where the identification proces began. He was given his final resting place on 14 February 1952.