Memorial

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At 1524 hours aircraft #42-7501 was hit by enemy aircraft and the bombs were dropped immediately. It was observed to circle off to the left and to begin burning, apparently under control. Enemy aircraft attacks became so intense at this time there was no further chance to observe.

Statement from Lt Milton L. Rosenblatt, co-pilot:
'We were attacked by Me 109s while circling to find our target. Both engines on the left side were shot out, putting us in a steep left turn and rolling our plane over on its back. With both Frank (Sobotka) and me on the controls, we managed to right the plane, but couldn't pull it out of the flat spin it went into. The rudder controls were gone and the instrument panel was shot out. Frank immediatly hit the alarm bell switch alerting the crew to bail out. After a few seconds, I spotted only four chutes descending. The mess in our cabine, due to the rolling over, was unbelievable. Our chest chutes, usually stowed behind our seats, had ended up in the radio compartment. I retrieved the chutes, putting Frank's in his lap and buckling mine on. Sgt Clair Schaeffer was strapped in the top turret, obviously dead, and our radio operator, Sgt Tom Capizzi was putting his chute on as well. Frank was yelling at us to jump. Capizzi and I stood at the edge of the bomb bay, so I jumped and apparently Capizzi froze up. He and Frank rode the plane down. I have no idea what had happened in the waist or nose sections of the plane, but I know I was the last one out. We were so low at the time I jumped that my chute only oscillated once before I hit the ground. I came into contact with the Underground about three days after landing.

The only information they could give me about my crew was that Abe Teitel was alive and 1st Lt Frank Sobotka's dog tags were found in the wreckage of the plane. I have never heard from any of my crew since then, although on my return to the States, I talked to most of their families and gave them as much information as I could.'