Memorial

More information

S/Sgt Howard L. Draper was a retail manager before he enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 11 May 1942.

Statement from 2nd Lt James R. Gallagher:
"On 25 February 1945, approximately 1100 hours, we, Lt Russell H. Clevenger, as pilot, I, James R. Gallagher, as Co-Pilot, took off in plane #044, on an operational mission over enemy territory. We were to fly in number 4 position with plane #220, which neither the pilot nor I could see or find. We were flying at 6300 feet when I saw plane #903, which was to be in #3 position of the same flight and called this to the attention of Lt Clevenger. We followed plane #903 for approximately 15 minutes when we noticed that he lowered his wheels were being retracted. At the same time of which we had no previous knowledge, another plane was flying directly below us. The plane below and our plane made contact at which time I felt a tremendous Jar and looked over to my right and saw the other plane for the first time, following this our plane seemed to get into a slow but steady spin. I immediately pressed the mike button and gave the alarm of abandon plane and dropped the wheels. I looked around and saw a large gaping hole in the Navigator’s compartment and the Bombardier and Engineer looking for their chutes. I unfastened my safety belt and proceeded to escape through the hole in the Navigator’s compartment. The last that I can recall is that I bailed out, which seemed to me at approximately 300 feet, and as I made contact with the ground I saw the plane afire."

S/Sgt Draper was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Champigneul, France.