B-17 ‘The Passionate Witch’ & ‘Kickapoo Joy Juice’ Plaque
Details:
Affixed on the outside wall of the left building next to the entrance gate.
A rectangular black plaque with a curved top containing a commemoration message and a list of names of two B-17 crews who were Killed in Action. The first crew is of the #42-32082 followed by the crew of the #42-97200. The printed images on the plaque are the 452nd Bomb Group and 728th Bomber Squadron insignias. The plaque was dedicated and unveiled on August 17, 2015, during the 71st Anniversary Celebration of the Liberation of Chateaudun from the Germans.
On March 28, 1944, during a mission to bomb the Châteaudun aerodrome, these two aircrews were shot down by flak and crashed near the aerodrome. Of the crewmembers of "The Passionate Witch", 6 were killed in action, 1 died of wounds, and 4 were taken as prisoners. "Kickapoo Joy Juice" crew has 6 casualties and 4 POWs.
B-17 #42-32082 ‘The Passionate Witch’ crew:
|
Sgt |
Hubert L |
Roughton |
Assistant/Gunner |
Prisoner |
|
1Lt |
Robert M |
Cook |
Pilot |
Prisoner |
|
2Lt |
Ronald J |
Casey |
Co-Pilot |
KIA |
|
T/Sgt |
Gerald H "Bob" |
Poplett |
Mechanic/ Gunner |
KIA |
|
Sgt |
George A |
Silva |
Radio Operator/ Gunner |
Prisoner |
|
2Lt |
John F |
Osswalt |
Navigator |
KIA |
|
2Lt |
John A |
Rowland |
Bombardier |
KIA |
|
S/Sgt |
Carl Herbert "Herbie" |
Blichmann |
Ball Turret Gunner |
KIA |
|
S/Sgt |
Richard L |
Thayer |
Left Waist Gunner |
Prisoner |
|
Sgt |
Fremont H |
Granade |
Right Waist Gunner |
KIA |
|
S/Sgt |
John C |
McLaughlin |
Tail Gunner |
DOW |
B-17 #42-97200 crew:
|
1Lt |
Charles J |
Robinson |
Pilot |
KIA |
|
2Lt |
Clifford J |
Downen |
Co-Pilot |
KIA |
|
2Lt |
Charles W |
Morgan |
Navigator |
KIA |
|
2Lt |
William Henry Jr |
Harrison |
Bombardier |
KIA |
|
S/Sgt |
Melvin E |
Baughman |
Mechanic/Gunner |
KIA |
|
Sgt |
Oscar Oland Jr |
McClure |
Ball Turret Gunner |
KIA |
|
T/Sgt |
Morris W |
Anderson |
Left Waist Gunner |
Prisoner |
|
S/Sgt |
William H J |
Abbott |
Right Waist Gunner |
Prisoner |
|
S/Sgt |
Dallas P Jr |
Oliver |
Tail Gunner |
Prisoner |
|
T/Sgt |
Conrad N |
Desmarais |
Radio Operator/ Gunner |
Prisoner |
Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net
Source of photos: www.aerosteles.net
Monument Text:
EN MÉMOIRE DES AVIATEURS
AMÉRICAINS TUÉS LE
28 MARS 1944
8th USAAF, 452nd Bomb Group, 728th Squadron
B17 n° 42-32082
2/Lt Ronald J. CASEY
2/Lt John F. OSSWALT
2/Lt John A. ROWLAND
T/Sgt Gerald H. POPLETT
S/Sgt Fremont H. GRANADE
S/Sgt Carl H. BLICHMANN
S/Sgt John C. McLAUGHLIN
B-17 n° 42-97200
1/Lt Charles J. ROBINSON
2/Lt Clifford J. DOWNEN
2/Lt Charles W. MORGAN
2/Lt William H. HARRISON Jr
S/Sgt Melvin E. BAUGHMAN
Sgt Oscar O. McClure Jr
killed in Action
English translation:
IN MEMORY OF THE AMERICAN AIRMEN
KILLED ON
MARCH 28, 1944
8th USAAF, 452nd Bomb Group, 728th Squadron
B17 n° 42-32082
2/Lt Ronald J. CASEY
2/Lt John F. OSSWALT
2/Lt John A. ROWLAND
T/Sgt Gerald H. POPLETT
S/Sgt Fremont H. GRANADE
S/Sgt Carl H. BLICHMANN
S/Sgt John C. McLAUGHLIN
B-17 n° 42-97200
1/Lt Charles J. ROBINSON
2/Lt Clifford J. DOWNEN
2/Lt Charles W. MORGAN
2/Lt William H. HARRISON Jr
S/Sgt Melvin E. BAUGHMAN
Sgt Oscar O. McClure Jr
killed in Action
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
728th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
