On 18 July 1944, Lt. Tex Green scheduled a four ship training flight. Just before take-off it was discovered that two of the ships would be late taking off; arrangements were made to join up with Lt. Green over the field. Lt. Leathers, on a solo hop, asked to fly with Lt. Green and his wing man until the others arrived, thus a three ship flight was in close formation when the others joined them.



One of the ships pulled out in front of the three ship formation and did a barrell roll. This so surprised Lt. Green that he nosed over sharply. Both of Lt. Green's wing men lost sight of him and proceeded straight ahead in a slight climb.



Lt. Green then pulled up, evidently still watching the ship roll, and hit the ship piloted by Lt. Leathers. The propeller on Lt. Leather's ship cut the tail of Lt. Green's ship. It crashed near Woodbridge, Suffolk.



The loss of Tex Green was a shock to the pilots of the 360th Fighter Squadron. In his memoir, fellow pilot Ed Nebinger recalls 'people died in combat siutuations; such losses were expected. That was part of the business we were in. But Tex's loss was a senseless tragedy of epic proportions, which hurt everyone deeply.'