Eyewitness statement, page 12 · 15 April 1944
U. S. CONFIDENTIAL equida ARITISO CONFIDENTIAL
840th SQUADRON (H)
483rd BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
A. P. Or, #520
15 April 1946
I was in No. 7 ship of No. 6 Box of which ship No. 786 way flying No.
6 position. The pilot of this airplane was Lt. PRESTON.
As we turnea to the right, apparently anto the target, the flak became
very accurate, and to the best of my knowledge Lt. PRESTON suffered a direct
hit in No. 3 tank which immediately exploded, and at that time the right wing
came off and the plane immediately began a sharp diving turn to the right.
I was forced to dive to the right to avoid being struck by Lit. PRESTONS'
plane, which at the time was burning fieroely. I saw no chutes.
allo a Failu
ARPHA A. FOWLER
let Lt., Air Corps
U. S. CONFIDENTIAL equals BRITISH CONFIDENTIAL
840th SQUADRON (H)
483rd BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
A. P. Or, #520
15 April 1946
I was in No. 7 ship of No. 6 Box of which ship No. 786 way flying No.
6 position. The pilot of this airplane was Lt. PRESTON.
As we turnea to the right, apparently anto the target, the flak became
very accurate, and to the best of my knowledge Lt. PRESTON suffered a direct
hit in No. 3 tank which immediately exploded, and at that time the right wing
came off and the plane immediately began a sharp diving turn to the right.
I was forced to dive to the right to avoid being struck by Lit. PRESTONS'
plane, which at the time was burning fieroely. I saw no chutes.
allo a Failu
ARPHA A. FOWLER
let Lt., Air Corps
U. S. CONFIDENTIAL equals BRITISH CONFIDENTIAL
National Archives, MACR 3909, page 12 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.