Memorial

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Francis X. Radley graduated from Boston Latin High School in 1941.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Boston, Massachusetts on 30 November 1942.

Statement of 1st Lt Clifford S. Hogan, who was flying in the same mission: "I was leading Yellow flight in Pillow Squadron. My number four man aborted, but the position was filled in by a spare from the 384 Sqdn, who soon afterward aborted, leaving my number three man without a wingman. At approximately 1215, our Sqdn was heading 40 degrees to intercept the bombers. We had just rolled out of a turn when two bogies were called in at three o´clock in the sun. I checked my flight's position and, finding it good, looked into the sun. Then I was looking back to my left, seeing Radley's ship on fire and the ME 262 in range, and with his nose pointed at me. I called a break to the whole Sqdn. The 262 passed under me, made a turn and came back in. My attention was then drawn to the attacker, and I neither saw nor heard any more from Radley. It is my belief that the pilot was hit, not having the chance to bail out."

Several jets were in the area. One jet attacked Lt Radley. His airplane was on fire from the nose to the front of the canopy. He went down in a spinning dive.