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AN534 WP-E “Easy” MK1 Fortress Plaque

<< Back to Stoke Albany Church

Details:

Mounted on a wall inside the church.

Plaque

A rectangular metal plaque engraved with an inscription in English in black lettering and a depiction of an MK1 Fortress. The inscription contains a commemoration message, a list of the names of the men aboard and their ages.

 

On July 28, 1941, XC Sqn Flying Fortress AN534 WP-E had departed from Polebrook at 1700 for a high-altitude test flight. During the flight, the aircraft suffered catastrophic in-flight structural failure and broke up. The aircraft crashed vertically at high speed into a field just outside the village of Stoke Albany. All the crew members were killed in the tragedy, including a serving member of the USAAF, 1Lt Hendricks, who, as the US had not yet entered WWII and at that point, was not initially included in the casualty lists. He was later included - but only listed as an "Observer". 

Source of information and photos: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

Monument Text:

In memory of the crew of Boeing Fortress I AN534

90 Squadron Royal Air Force

(Polebrook)

 

Flt. Sgt. Reginald G. Bradley RAFVR

Flt. Sgt. Hubert CG Brook RAFVR

Sgt. Robert Henderson RAFVR

1st Lt. Laird W. Hendricks USAAC

Flt. Sgt. Ronald CA Muir RAFVR

Sgt. Philip S Pugh RAFVR

Sgt. Roy Smith RAFVR

 

aged 28

aged 25

aged 23

aged 25

aged 20

aged 23

aged 28

 

Who died near this place 28th July 1941

 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will

remember them.

Commemorates:

People:

Laird Woodruff, Jr. Hendricks

Units:

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

US Army Air Corps

Wars:

WWII

Other images :