Jim Cherkauer, pilot for the 65th SQ: "I flew Petty Gal on its last mission on May 18, 1945. It was so badly battered up from ack ack and shrapnel from the bombs in the plane on whose wing I was flying. The ack ack blew Franklin's plane and crew to bits. Several hundred fragments of the fragmentation bombs he was carrying hit Petty Gal. We lost the two port engines although I was able to get some power out of #2 about halfway home to the emergency strip at Lingayen, Luzon, Philippines. Two planes went down, Franklin's and Wilt's. We made it back with two severely injured gunners. Twelve good men were killed or MIA. Wilt's crew bailed out and two men were never found by the Cats."