B-17G 44-6133 Plaque
Details:
To the east close to the main gate of Allhallows Yacht Club. The plaque is placed on the left-hand side of the info sign.
A rectangular, dark plaque, inscribed in English text in white lettering, affixed on a wooden backboard and is supported by a blue metal pole. Printed on the top of the plaque is the USAF Roundel (1943-1947) followed by the commemoration message then the names of the aircraft crew members. The plaque, together with the info sign and a separate plaque of printed pictures of the crew are set inside a pentagon-shaped border of oyster shells, along with some driftwood, all collected from the beach in front of the memorial. This was done to symbolize the aircraft's final resting place, which is on the tidal mudflats some 500 yards or so in front of the memorial plaque. The memorial was originally raised by Mitch Peeke in June of 2019 and unveiled jointly by two relatives of two of the crew: Jeanne Cronis-Campbell, daughter of the Bombardier; and Noel Tognazzini, nephew of the Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner.
Another plaque commemorating the two aircraft can be found on this link:
Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com
Source of images: www.findagrave.com
Monument Text:
In Memory of the American Airmen from the 525th Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, who wire the crew of B 17 44-6133
which crashed 520 yards ahead of this memorial on Monday June 19th 1944.
Pilot: Second Lieutenant Armand Ramacitti - Killed.
Co-pilot: Second Lieutenant William 'Bill' Hager - Killed.
Navigator: First Lieutenant Donald 'Don' Watson - Killed.
Flight Engineer/top turret gunner: Staff Sergeant Cecil Tognazzini - Missing.
Radio Operator: Sergeant Richard 'Dick' Ritter - Killed.
Ball Turret gunner: Staff Sergeant John Burke - Killed.
Waist gunner: Corporal Paul Haynes - Killed.
Tail gunner: Sergeant Warren Oaks - Killed.
Bombardier: Second Lieutenant Theo Chronopolis[sic] - Survived.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
379th Bomber Group
525th Bomber Squadron, 379th Bomb Group
8th Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII