A rectangular metal plaque, inset into a wooden backboard and is inscribed in English in raised lettering commemorating the crew of the crashed plane. Within the church, is a folder with further details regarding the bomber and its crew. This plaque is identical to the one in the North Tuddenham Common.

The aircraft repair factory at Zwickau, Germany, was the target for 28 planes from the 392nd. On April 21, 1944, Kentucky Baby’s crew was forming up for the mission to Zwickau. For reasons unknown (but perhaps related to the severe weather and icing conditions), the left-wing broke off at the outer panel during assembly. Around 1417 hours, the plane crashed at North Tuddenham, near East Dereham, Norfolk, England. Two crew members bailed out successfully but eight perished in this accident.

The survivors were engineer S/Sgt Gerald A. Knettel and waist gunner Sgt John J. Brzostowski. Knettel rarely talked about the incident, but did tell his son Michael that the air was colder than normal that day and they were flying at a higher altitude than usual. He heard a tremendous noise and then he and Brzostowski just fell from the plane. As his chute deployed, the plane exploded and debris showered down. His parachute was damaged, causing him to descend too fast. He was severely injured; a metal plate had to be placed in his head and a rod in his leg. These injuries pained him until his death at age 47. Neither Knettel nor Brzostowski ever flew a combat mission again. Instead, both were transferred to the 577th's ground crew and finished the war with that unit.

Their aircraft was B-24J #42-99979, which had completed eight combat missions up to this mishap.

The crew members who perished were:

2/LT Bass, Louis F. (P)

2/LT Gahm, Kenneth L. (CP)

2/LT Steele, Wayne M. (N)

2/LT Stover, Arthur R. Jr. (B)

T/Sgt Thomas, James W. (R)

SGT Reeves, Walter E. (RW)

SGT Burnett, Warren H. (BT)

S/Sgt Norrell, Robert E. (TG)

Source of information: www.b24.net, www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

Source of photos: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

IN HONOUR OF

THE CREW OF A B24 BOMBER

WHO WERE KILLED ON 21st APRIL 1944

AT NORTH TUDDENHAM

2ND LT LOUIS F BASS

2ND LT KENNETH L GAHM

2ND LT ARTHUR R STOVER

2ND LT WAYNE M STEELE

T/SGT JAMES W THOMAS

S/SGT ROBERT E NORRELL

SGT WALTER E REEVES

SGT WARREN BURNETT