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At just after quarter of eight this morning back in 1945, 'Chris' Crate II' with her full crew on board took off from RAF Attlebridge in Norfolk on a mission.
As I write this, seventy years later, three of that crew are in the freezing waters of the North Sea, struggling for their lives, after an engine fire, then a hard ditching.
As I write this, they are in a life raft, and fully aware that there will be nobody else getting out. 'Chris' Crate II' has gone to the bottom of the North Sea.
As I write this, they paddle around around in the zero degree waters, they can see the tail end of the rest of their pals, in their hundreds, heading to Germany to deliver more war, but their war is with the water, their injuries, and the numbing cold that is sapping their senses, taking away the will to live, with every second.
As I write this, it's now ten after eight, local time, and not far from me here in East Anglia, just fifteen short miles off Cromer, six of the crew of 'Chris's Crate II' are dead, and three have survived, just.
The dead are -
2nd Lt Theodore V Kolaya of Pennsylvania
2nd Lt Thomas J Foley of Massachusetts
2nd Lt John F. McGrady of Pennsylvania
Sgt John White of California
Sgt Ralph H Wilson of Minnesota
and Sgt Glenn R Cowan of Indiana
As I write this, it's over, right now, seventy years ago. They are gone, and forever. Now just names on a wall, mostly.
Except for Tom Foley, known as Bonny to his fiancée because of his bright blue eyes. Her niece told me how well her aunt remembers him, even today.
Let's do the same, and remember him, and all the others who gave all their tomorrows so that we could have a today.
Tac Foley
As I write this, seventy years later, three of that crew are in the freezing waters of the North Sea, struggling for their lives, after an engine fire, then a hard ditching.
As I write this, they are in a life raft, and fully aware that there will be nobody else getting out. 'Chris' Crate II' has gone to the bottom of the North Sea.
As I write this, they paddle around around in the zero degree waters, they can see the tail end of the rest of their pals, in their hundreds, heading to Germany to deliver more war, but their war is with the water, their injuries, and the numbing cold that is sapping their senses, taking away the will to live, with every second.
As I write this, it's now ten after eight, local time, and not far from me here in East Anglia, just fifteen short miles off Cromer, six of the crew of 'Chris's Crate II' are dead, and three have survived, just.
The dead are -
2nd Lt Theodore V Kolaya of Pennsylvania
2nd Lt Thomas J Foley of Massachusetts
2nd Lt John F. McGrady of Pennsylvania
Sgt John White of California
Sgt Ralph H Wilson of Minnesota
and Sgt Glenn R Cowan of Indiana
As I write this, it's over, right now, seventy years ago. They are gone, and forever. Now just names on a wall, mostly.
Except for Tom Foley, known as Bonny to his fiancée because of his bright blue eyes. Her niece told me how well her aunt remembers him, even today.
Let's do the same, and remember him, and all the others who gave all their tomorrows so that we could have a today.
Tac Foley
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