LT Hostetter (RAF) Elementary School Memorial Plaques
Details:
On the north side of the building and by the entry door. Plaque
The memorial includes two plaques. The first is etched marble. The second is a large painted metal panel (drafted by the school students in '97-'98).
The first plaque remembered the parents of LT Theodore Hostatter, Mr. and Mrs Anson Borchard who assisted in the rebuilding of the school and town after the end of WW1.
The second plaque remembers LT Theodore R. Hostetter an American who flew with the Royal Air Force (trained in Canada) during World War 1. Hostetter was killed south of Masnières when he was shot down by a group of German fighters, which included the German Ace Robert Greim (who was credited with his 25th kill). LT Hostetter was flying a Sopwith Camel for the 3rd Fighter Squadron of the RAF when he was shot down.
Hostetter is buried in the Somme American Cemetery.
There is also a monument at the crash site south of town which was paid for by his mother, Madame Burchard-Hostetter, spouse of a prominent American businessmen of the age.
Monument Text:
The first plaque by the entry door is written in French and reads:
CETTE ECOLE E ETA EDIFICE L’AIDE GENERUESE
DE MR ET MME ANSON W. BORCHARD
DE NEW YORK EN SOUVENIR DE LEUR FILS
LIEUTENANT THEODORE R HOSTETTER
MORT PER LA FRANCE A MASNIERES
LE 28 SEPTEMBRE 1918
The translation:
This school was built with the generous assistance
Of Mr. and Mrs ANSON W. BORCHARD
of New York as a memorial to their son
Lieutenant Theodore HOSTETTER
Who died for France in Masnieres
28 September 1918
The second large metal sign on the side of the building is written in French and reads:
LE LIEUTENANT Theodore HOSTETTER
relaté par les élèves des écoles élémentaires (1997-1998)
Le Lieutenant Theodore HOSTETTER est né le 3 octobre 1897 à New York.
Enrôlé dans 'aviation le 14 aôut 1917, dans la Royal Air Force ;
incorporé le 7 avril 1918 au " 54th Squadron
, il a été blessé le
11 avril et hospitalisé à Wimereux puis transféré vers l'Angleterre.
Il a rejoint le " 3 rd Squadron " le 11 septembre, a été abattu
le 27 septembre 1918 à 8h15mn au sud de Masnières au cours
d'une mission visant à détruire les ballons 'observation disposés
le long du canal de l'Escaut
Le vainqueur de ce duel aérien fut l'Oberleutnant Robert von
Greim à bord d'un Fokker.
Sa mort, confirmée de source allemande
le 15 novembre 1918, a été reconnue officiellement
par une décision du conseil de l'air le 17 mai 1919.
L'école qui porte son nom fut en partie construite
grâce aux dons de Mme BURCHARD, mère
de l'aviateur.
La commune lui fit ériger un monument qui se
trouve Chemin des Rues des Vignes.
The translation:
LIEUTENANT Theodore HOSTETTER
recounted by elementary school students (1997-1998)
Lieutenant Theodore HOSTETTER was born on October 3, 1897 in New York.
Enlisted in the aviation on August 14, 1917, in the Royal Air Force;
joined the 54th Squadron on April 7, 1918; he was injured on
April 11 and hospitalized in Wimereux then transferred to England.
He joined the "3rd Squadron" on September 11, was shot down
on September 27, 1918 at 8:15 a.m. south of Masnières during
of a mission aimed at destroying the observation balloons placed
along the Scheldt canal
The winner of this aerial duel was Oberleutnant Robert von
Greim aboard a Fokker. His death, confirmed by a German source
on November 15, 1918, was officially recognized
by a decision of the air council on May 17, 1919.
The school which bears his name was partly built
thanks to donations from Mrs. BURCHARD, mother
of the aviator.
The town had a monument erected to him on the
Chemin des Rues des Vignes.
