1st Lt William H. Parks was the bombardier aboard the B-26 Marauder 42-95802 “Skeeter” when it took off from station 166 Matching Green, Essex, UK, on August 25th, 1944. The 391st Bomb Group was scheduled to bomb coastal defenses at Pont-Scorff near Roscanvel on the Crozon peninsula, France. The target was at extreme range for B26’s and fuel usage would be critical. At 1340 hours thirty six B26 Marauders took off from their field at Matching Green and set course for their target. The meteorological forecast predicted hazy but cloudless conditions over the target area. The lightly defended target was hit by 464 x 260.lb fragmentation bombs between 1553 & 1558 hours, the formation then turning for the outward flight. As the formation approached the English Channel all the ships were experiencing low gas status. Approximately 15 minutes after bombing Capt Thorne flying deputy lead, informed his flight that due to gas shortage he was going to leave the formation and set course for Cherbourg with the intent of landing at a forward Allied base to refuel. Capt Thorne then dropped behind the formation and Lt Rice pulled his plane up to regain position on the lead element. Suddenly, Thorn’s plane,which had broken formation appeared under the left wing of Rice’s B26. Lt Rice pulled his plane up instantly, but before he could gain much altitude, there was a sickening crash as the tail of the lead ship sliced along his wing and into the left propeller blade of his left engine. The tail empennage of the lead ship was torn off completely, and the B26 was seen spinning down into the undercast with only one parachute opening. Onboard was a frenzy of activity. Capt Thorn was halfway out of his seat and the alarm bell was ringing. Lt Calvert was putting on his chute with the copilot on his knees trying to open the wheel well doors, but these were apparently stuck. The radio gunner opened the Bombay doors and then closed them again. At about 500’ Lt Calvert managed to bail out through the pilot’s hatch. “Skeeter” continued its dive to plunge into the sea between Sark Rock and La Moisie. Parks’ body drifted north-east in the ship’s nose for about a month before washing up at L’Etacq on the Jersey shore on September 7th. He was buried and subsequently repatriated by the Germans.