Extract from “Double Nickel, Double Trouble”
Captain Clair Des Voignes said: "I led the "Hellcat White" squadron near Dreux, France. I noticed that there were shots from the anti-aircraft defence where "Hellcat Blue" was. At about 1400 hours "Hellcat Blue" ordered to turn left. I also turned left. I didn’t see any enemy aircraft, so I made a 360º turn. I ordered the squadron to turn 360º as well, meet up and resume its course. On my second 360-degree turn, I saw a crash site. No trace of the aircraft or pilot. The aircraft was later identified as 1/Lt. Grant H. Cory.”
Captain Snell led the "Hellcat Blue" Flight. Lt. Gould was his winger, Lt. Cory was number three, and Cory’s winger was Lt. Silk. 38th Squadron was led by Captain Des Voignes. Lt. Callaghan was his winger, Lt. Littlefield was the leader, and Lt. Robert Hoffman was his winger.
The Group’s mission, led by Major Kelly, was to fly over and bomb the embankment and bridges of Sens, France.
Three squadrons of the Group, forty-nine P-38, took part in this mission. They took off at 1135 hours and landed at 1512 hours. After the bombing, the Group headed northwest near Paris, where anti-aircraft guns attacked, until four Me-109 aircraft appeared behind the "Hellcat" squadron at 10,000 feet near Dreux.
Four more Me-109 strengthened them, but they left before they could face them.
Two men lost their lives: Cory, because of the attack of anti-aircraft defences, and Hoffman, who was shot down by an enemy plane.
Lt. Cory was originally from Montana.
His name is inscribed on the Wall of the Disappeared at the American War Cemetery in St. James, France.
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