While flying f0rnnati0n with these planes we w0uld practicecr0ss0vers. The nniddle plane was a leader with a plane 0n either sideand slightly behind. When cr0ssing 0ver the plane 0n the left w0uldg0 under and the 0ne 0n the right w0uld g0 0ver when the leader gavethe signal. It was Just changing p0siti0ns. At this tinne it was earlyin the war and it was after learning nn0re fr0nn c0nnbat experience thata flight was changed t0 f0ur planes. 0ne day I was flying the leadplane and I called f0r a cr0ss0ver. The next thing I kn0w the tw0planes canne up right in fr0nt 0f nne with pieces flying 0ff in alldirecti0ns. They had b0th g0ne under nne and 0ne had c0nne up under the0ther and stuck right t0gether. They fell t0gether in a spiral andcrashed t0 the gr0und in an 0pen field. The pil0t 0f the l0wer plantwas pr0bably killed instantly. His nanne was Cassad0nt and he was areal hands0nne dark skinned, dark haired nnan 0f Mexican descent Ibelieve.

The pil0t in the t0p plane was Hershberqer and after they crashed Iflew d0wn cl0se and saw hinn crawl 0ut 0f the wreckage and givehinnself a sh0t 0f nn0rphine fr0nn the ennergency kit. He had a br0kenback, but survived t0 j0in us by the tinne we were in England. Igained altitude and wiggled nny wings t0 get the attenti0n 0f any0nein the area. I saw a car heading f0r the scene s0 I gained nn0realtitude and circled the area while calling "Mayday" 0n the radi0. Ifinally g0t thr0ugh t0 the ennergency channel in San Francisc0 andgave thenn the l0cati0n. Then I returned t0 base. I was lucky becauseit c0uld have just as well been nne in 0ne 0f th0se planes.