Parham Dedication Address

Remarks by Lt. Col. Robert C. Cozens

May 9, 1992

Dedication of the Memorial at 390th Tower, Framlingham, UK

Presented by the "Friends of the Eighth"

Honoring those killed during the Kiel mission, Sunday, June 13, 1943.

We are indeed indebted to the "Friends of the Eighth" for their memorial tribute to our comrades who were killed in action during the mission to Kiel. 

It was on Sunday June 13, 1943 that the 95th Bomb Group sent forth more than two hundred and sixty of its finest airmen to attempt to destroy the shipyards at Kiel in northern Germany.  Over one hundred of those men did not return to Framlingham from that mission on that day.

Although it was the ninth mission flown by the 95th it was only the third mission for me and my crew as we took up our deputy lead position immediately behind the lead aircraft.   As we completed our bomb run our leader was shot down by extremely heavy enemy gunfire.  

On board were our wing commander, General Nathan Bedford Forrest III; my squadron commander, Major Al Wilder; group navigator, and formerly my crew navigator, Lt. Willard Brown; and pilot, my very good friend , Captain Harry Stirwalt and his crew, with whom we had trained together since the inception of the 95th Bomb Group.  All aboard were killed in action with the exception of Lt. Brown and, I believe, one other crew member.

John Miller, who was the pilot of the B17 flying on the right wing of the leader, is with us here today and I know that he joins with me in our praise for the courage and skill demonstrated by our leaders on that fateful day.  We know, too, that the others who did not return from that mission demonstrated the same high quality of courage and skill.

As we pay tribute to our comrades in arms who gave up their lives that day in an effort to free our European friends from aggression, let us pray that their lives were not lost in vain.

Combat within and between nations continues in various parts of our world today, but within the confines of the European battlefield of the nineteen forties, relative peace reigns.  We who fought upon that battlefield can share a sense of pride for bringing peace to this segment of the world. 

In that respect our fallen comrades did not die in vain!  They gave the ultimate in the quest for peace between warring nations.  Let all who enjoy that peace today join in thanks to those who gave up their lives to achieve it.

Those who were lost on the mission to Kiel on June 13, 1943 made the ultimate sacrifice as they completed their mission for peace in a gallant manner.  They are remembered and honored by this lasting memorial contributed by our English friends.  

We who were fortunate enough to survive the rigors of combat take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to those who took it upon themselves to memoralize our comrades who fell in battle almost fifty years ago on that fateful day in June.