1st Lt Robert Eugene Kylius, bombardier 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. Kylius managed to bail out and headed for Malestroit where he was aided by local families and Resistance members to return to England.