Memorial

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Soon after crossing the Zuiderzee, the airplane was shot out of formation. Navigator John C. Kaliher, one of the surviving crew members stated after te war: "Our plane was attacked. First by 3 waves of 4 single-engined German fighter planes. The first attack put out both of our top and ball turrets. Our top turret gunner, Sgt David Tempesta, was hit by a 20mm shell which burst inside him and killing him instantly. Also the radio operator, Sgt George A. Callihan, was killed by a 20mm shell. A fire started in our no.1 engine. We lost about 1500 feet of altitude and were immediately attacked again, both front and rear. A large shell of a rocket from one of these rear attacks destroyed most of our oxygen containers, tore open the right side of the plane from bomb bay to the nose escape hatch. Also tore amay most of the right wing hood and part of the no.3 engine, so the propeller wind milled. We ended up flying in a banked circle with no flying speed and constantly loosing altitude. We received the order to prepare to bail out before the entire plane was shot away. I made two trips from the nose to the pilot's cockpit and on the last trip was told to bail out. I believe our plane crashed before I reached the ground in my chute."

The plane made a crash-landing. Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four were killed.