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B-24 'Alfred' (42-7485) Crash Memorial

<< Back to Upper Sheringham

Details:

In the churchyard to the left of the north door.


Marker


A polished granite headstone style tablet inscribed in English in white lettering, set on a granite base. On the top center of the plaque is the insignia of the 8th Air Force. 


The aircraft was named by the Layton crew after the cartoons in Collier’s magazine depicting a none too smart swabbie named “Alfred”. The memorial commemorates and lists the crew of the #42-7485 ‘Alfred’ which crashed near here in 1944 while returning from a mission. This aircrew was returning from the combat mission to Kiel on January 4, 1944, and due to severe aircraft damage was forced to attempt a crash landing just on the Northeastern coast of East Anglia at the small village of Sheringham, Norfolk. The time of this crash was recorded at 1434 hours as the ship hit some trees in the attempted landing. Four (4) crewmen were killed outright in the crash and a fifth died in a hospital at Cromer four days later. The only record of an overseas burial is that of Lt. Thomson, the Bombardier, who is interred at Cambridge. The aircraft was demolished in this tragic event and on its 16th combat mission. The plane had just been transferred from the 577th into the 578th. The first five of the crew on the stone died, the others survived.


Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com

Source of photos: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

Monument Text:

Remember before God with thanksgiving

the gallant Crew of B24H 'Alfred' of the 392nd BG. USAAF

which crashed near this spot on 4th January 1944

whilst returning badly damaged from a mission to Kiel.

In gratitude also to those who aided the survivors

in the common cause of freedom.

 

2/Lt. COLBY A. WAUGH, Pilot, KIA

2/Lt. ARTHUR L. COUND, Navigator, KIA

2/Lt. VIRGIL E. THOMSON, Bombardier, KIA

S/Sgt. DON C. BELDEN, Gunner, KIA

S/Sgt EDWARD R. MURPHY, Gunner, KIA

2/Lt. JAMES W. BARTON, Co-Pilot

T/Sgt. LESTER L. WAGNER, Engineer

T/Sgt. PARKE V. KENT, Radio Operator

S/Sgt. EARL J. JOHNSON, Gunner

S/Sgt. HENRY WILK, Gunner

 

LEST WE FORGET

Commemorates:

People:

James William "Jimmy" Barton

Don C. Belden

Arthur L. Cound

Earl J. Johnson

Parke Vanvliet Kent

Edward Regis Murphy

Virgil E. Thomson

Lester L. Wagner

Colby A. Waugh

Henry Rudolph Wilk

Units:

392nd Bomb Group

577th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group

578th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy

8th Air Force

US Army Air Corps

Wars:

WWII

Other images :