Memorial

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The aircraft was damaged by flak while passing over Zwolle and crashed. It slid out of formation about five minutes after it was hit and dropped his bombs. Then it made a 180-degree turn under perfect control with number four prop feathered. It was last seen under controle heading west.

The crew of nine bailed out Northeast of Enschede, Holland. Eight of the nine were captured and dispatched to interrogation centres.

Lt. Galle, who was apparently unhurt, was taken by the SS to the cellar of the villa that was serving as SS headquarters. He was kept under ground while arrangements were made for his disposal. These arrangements consisted of the removal of his flying kit and the substitution of a civilian light-coloured shirt, a pair of dark trousers and a pair of socks.

In this dress he was placed into a security vehicle, his hands handcuffed behind his back, and taken, some distance in the grounds of the SS HQ to a spot within the compound where a grave had already been prepared. The airman was marched from the car by an escort of two SS men, one of whom dropped back and shot the airman in the back of the neck. He was buried and the grave was carefully camouflaged.

The execution was carried out by SS-Unterscharführer Herbert Gernoth. He was sentenced to death by the Allied Military Court at Burgsteinfurt on 11 February 1946. The sentence was carried out on 16 May 1946.

It was Lt. Galles 36th mission. It was believed that this mission would be his last.

The full story can be read here: http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/Galicia3/gal175.html