Inside the church.

A paper scroll in a wooden and glass frame. It is printed with the 1Lt Gumm’s photo, the US aviator badge, the 9^th Air Force insignia, and then the commemoration message. Also, a commemorative bench could be found beside the Nayland village war memorial cross.

Lt. Charles F. Gumm was the first pilot to down an enemy aircraft in a P-51B on December 16, 1943.  On the mission to Bremen, Lt. Gumm came home with a claim of one JU 88 damaged and one BF 109 shot down at 1330 hours.  A little over 2 months later on February 21, 1944, Lt. Gumm becomes the first ace of the 354th Fighter Group by downing a BF 110 over Brunswick at 1430 hours.

Lt. Gumm's career would end very unexpectedly on March 1, 1944, as the P-51 he was on developed engine trouble on take-off.  He realized he was over the town of Nayland and realized if he bailed out to save himself his plane would crash in the English town and claim innocent lives.  He decided to stay with his plane and force landed it hitting a tree which threw him from his plane killing him.  At the time Lt. Gumm died he was the leading ace for the group with 7 1/2 victories to his credit.

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, 354thfightergroup.homestead.com

Source of photo: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

First Lieutenant

Charles F. Gumm Jr.,

355th Squadron of the 354th Fighter Group

9th United States Army Air Force

This 23 year old hero, husband and father of a 6 month old

daughter, lost his life in our village. His P-51 Mustang

suffered engine failure shortly after take off from Boxted

airfield. He chose to stay with the ailing aircraft and attempt

a safe landing in the water meadow. Sadly, the tailplane

clipped a tree causing the fatal crash at Court Knoll on:

Wednesday 1^st March 1944.