SSgt. Gibbs served as a gunner aboard B-24H #41-29531 with Gay's crew.
"I am bombardier on Lieutenant Gay's crew flying Able 13 in formation on bombing mission over Austria, May 10, 1944. Lieutenant Howes crew flying Baker 21, when hit by flak was approximately over the IP, Donneskirchen. I saw smoke pouring out of the Bomb Bay and the Bomb Bay doors were closed at the time. This evidently took from 3 to 5 minutes. Lieutenant Howes pulled out of the formation and headed left toward my ship Able 13. Partway between, he gained a little altitude. Suddenly the Bom Bay burst and I saw the doors flying out abrest our ship and Able 11. Two men came out with their clothes and parachutes in flames.
I saw no one else leave the ship. I followed the ship down and he was in a sort of flat spin, side slipping to the right, at approximately 10,000 feet the ship still burning folded up in three pieces. I lost sight of the ship and at about the same time the formation started dropping its bombs on the target, Wiener Neustadt/Nord area.
LOIS F. PACHECO
F/O, Bombardier
Lieutenant Gay's Crew.
"I am bombardier on Lieutenant Gay's crew flying Able 13 in formation on bombing mission over Austria, May 10, 1944. Lieutenant Howes crew flying Baker 21, when hit by flak was approximately over the IP, Donneskirchen. I saw smoke pouring out of the Bomb Bay and the Bomb Bay doors were closed at the time. This evidently took from 3 to 5 minutes. Lieutenant Howes pulled out of the formation and headed left toward my ship Able 13. Partway between, he gained a little altitude. Suddenly the Bom Bay burst and I saw the doors flying out abrest our ship and Able 11. Two men came out with their clothes and parachutes in flames.
I saw no one else leave the ship. I followed the ship down and he was in a sort of flat spin, side slipping to the right, at approximately 10,000 feet the ship still burning folded up in three pieces. I lost sight of the ship and at about the same time the formation started dropping its bombs on the target, Wiener Neustadt/Nord area.
LOIS F. PACHECO
F/O, Bombardier
Lieutenant Gay's Crew.
SSgt. Gibbs served as a gunner aboard B-24H #41-29531 with Gay's crew.
"I am bombardier on Lieutenant Gay's crew flying Able 13 in formation on bombing mission over Austria, May 10, 1944. Lieutenant Howes crew flying Baker 21, when hit by flak was approximately over the IP, Donneskirchen. I saw smoke pouring out of the Bomb Bay and the Bomb Bay doors were closed at the time. This evidently took from 3 to 5 minutes. Lieutenant Howes pulled out of the formation and headed left toward my ship Able 13. Partway between, he gained a little altitude. Suddenly the Bom Bay burst and I saw the doors flying out abrest our ship and Able 11. Two men came out with their clothes and parachutes in flames.
I saw no one else leave the ship. I followed the ship down and he was in a sort of flat spin, side slipping to the right, at approximately 10,000 feet the ship still burning folded up in three pieces. I lost sight of the ship and at about the same time the formation started dropping its bombs on the target, Wiener Neustadt/Nord area.
LOIS F. PACHECO
F/O, Bombardier
Lieutenant Gay's Crew.
"I am bombardier on Lieutenant Gay's crew flying Able 13 in formation on bombing mission over Austria, May 10, 1944. Lieutenant Howes crew flying Baker 21, when hit by flak was approximately over the IP, Donneskirchen. I saw smoke pouring out of the Bomb Bay and the Bomb Bay doors were closed at the time. This evidently took from 3 to 5 minutes. Lieutenant Howes pulled out of the formation and headed left toward my ship Able 13. Partway between, he gained a little altitude. Suddenly the Bom Bay burst and I saw the doors flying out abrest our ship and Able 11. Two men came out with their clothes and parachutes in flames.
I saw no one else leave the ship. I followed the ship down and he was in a sort of flat spin, side slipping to the right, at approximately 10,000 feet the ship still burning folded up in three pieces. I lost sight of the ship and at about the same time the formation started dropping its bombs on the target, Wiener Neustadt/Nord area.
LOIS F. PACHECO
F/O, Bombardier
Lieutenant Gay's Crew.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Ohio.
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