Raymond Lane
ASN:35044212
In a letter dated August 1945 from Epinal, France, Capt. Howard C. Dibble writes to Mrs. Doherty, providing an account of events involving John during a military operation. The context is a mission in which both John and the author were in gliders heading for Holland.
The gliders were intended to land within a specific zone, but the mission faced complications. Some gliders, including John's, overshot the landing zone and ended up in Germany instead of Holland. The gliders were towed in formation, with four columns abreast. The author's glider was in the third column, second from the right, while John's was in the first column on the left side.
Upon landing, the gliders split into two columns, two abreast. Columns three and four landed successfully or near the prescribed zone. However, the first two columns were towed on before they could be released, resulting in scattered landings in Germany and Holland. The author's group, including Capt. Connelly, returned safely by night, avoiding German troops. Similarly, Major Silvey's group landed without incident and remained undiscovered by German forces.
However, the fate of John's glider remained unclear. The only report regarding John's glider was that Sergeant Siegel was found later by Canadian troops. He was discovered sitting in the jeep within the glider. As medical supplies were in the jeep, and due to the nature of the glider's cargo, they were certain that this was John's glider. Notably, neither the pilot nor the jeep driver were found. There was a presumption that they had exited the glider, either on their own or with assistance.
Due to the location of John's glider's landing, in an area not cleared of Germans until just before the Rhine crossing by Canadian forces, the area was inaccessible for inspection until a considerable time after the landing.
The author addresses a report claiming that John was among the 101st Airborne personnel and that they left from Southampton. The author refutes this claim, as they departed from Market Harborough near Lubenham and went to Cottesmore airport.
The letter conveys the officers' and men's admiration for John's character and their sense of loss, even though his time with the battalion was short. John's qualities of moral rectitude and companionship were noted. The author expresses understanding of Mrs. Doherty's loss and assures that if more information surfaces, they will share it.
The letter ends with the author extending sympathy, offering to provide further details if available, and remaining open to answering any questions Mrs. Doherty might have.
Names and addresses of relevant individuals are also included for reference:
Lt. Col. James C. Todd, 681 Glider F. A. Battalion, APO 425 N.Y.C.
Mrs. Nora Lane (Mother of Raymond Lane) 635 South 2nd St. Hardinsburg, Ky.
Mr. Joseph Siegel (Father of William Siegel) 680 Fort Washington Ave N.Y.C.
The only other occupant of the glider was the pilot, whose name the author does not have.
