2nd Lt Arnold R. Carlson, co-pilot of the B-17 42-5717, took off from Thurleigh in Bedfordshire, UK on a bombing mission over Saint-Nazaire’s “Flak Alley”. They were harassed by enemy fighters and flak until they crashed around noon. Carlson tried to level the plane after the pilot's death, but it just dived straight down. Carlson crashed with it.