Memorial

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Statement of Capt James L. Dole, who flew in the same mission "On 19 July 1944, I was leading a flight of four P-47 airplanes returning from a fighter cover mission. 1st Lt Philip E. Frankfort was flying #2 position; 1st Lt James W. Dixon was leading the second element and F/O Donn W. Dolson was flying #4 position. Approximately one minute before reaching Le Havre, France, which was land Fall Out, F/O Dolson gave me a radio call saying that he was low on gasoline. I instructed his element leader, 1st Lt James W. Dixon, to take him to a nearby landing strip to refuel. At that time we were at an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet directly over the beach and Le Havre was off my left wing tip. After Lt Dixon acknowledged my instructions, they peeled off to the left in formation and took a course along the beach towards the Cherbourg Peninsula. Just prior to reaching Le Havre, another flight called out our location so Lt Dixon was aware of his location. His radio seemed to be functioning perfectly."

Statement of 1st Lt Philip E. Frankfort, who flew in the same mission: "At approximately 2130, 19 July 1944, I was flying #2 position in a four ship flight returning from a fighter cover mission. The flight was led by Capt James L. Cole; 1st Lt James W. Dixon was leading the second element and F/O Donn W. Dolson was flying #4 position. Approximately two minutes before we reached land Fall Out, we were over the overcast, and F/O Dolson called the flight leader saying he had about 75 gallons of fuel left. Capt Cole instructed Lt Dixon to escort F/O Dolson to the beachhead landing strip to refuel. Lt Dixon acknowledged the call and he and F/O Dolson peeled off to the left in formation and started down, and we didn't hear from them again. A minute after they had left we passed over a break in the clouds and I noticed that we were directly over Le Havre, France".