After making the bomb run and dropping with the Group, the aircraft was seen to be hit by flak on the way out.

The hit was believed to be between #1 and #2 engines and #2 was feathered as the plane was last seen out of the formation and flying low on the left.

Second Bombardment Division flying Control received a radio report from this aircraft stating that the crew was going to bail out the co-ordinates given, near Texel Island, Holland. Lt. Quinn, “looked around and counted all the chutes in the air, eight others.”

The pilot and co-pilot remained on the plane to ensure everyone was out, John bailed on the signal, then they bailed out.

The seven crewmembers who bailed out first were caught by an unexpected change in wind direction and blown toward the North Sea.

They all drowned after landing in theIJsselmeer. The crews’ remains were recovered over the following several months, Jack’s on February 3, 1945.

His Brother 1st Lt. Thomas D. Cahill, the Navigator of B-25J-10-NC, 43-36098 of the 340BG/486BS in Corsica, Mediterranean Theater, was KIA on February 5, 1945 when the aircraft crashed near Calliano in Italy (All crew: 7 KIA). He was buried after WWII at Fort Scott National Cemetery, Kansas, USA in a collective grave, Plot 2-0-1855.

John W Cahill