Monument Details

B-24 Liberator (42-63798) Memorial

Details:

On the north side of the crossroad.

Plaque

A tall stele with commemorative plaques detailing the crash of the aircraft and listing its crew members.

An American B-24 Liberator was shot down in the night of 5th to 6th June 1944 by German AA fire, crashing in flames and exploding over the Brate forest (Mably township). The plane belonged to the 801st Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force based in England. It was on a resupply mission to the French underground. The eight crew members bailed out one by one from Chenay to Mably. Six of them evaded German patrols thanks to the courage of many of the local inhabitants. Two of them, wounded, were captured shortly thereafter. The crew was composed of: 2nd Lt Murray L Simon pilot (escaped); 1st Lt John B Mead bombardier (smuggled to the underground); 2nd Lt French M Russell copilot (escaped); 1st Lt John A Reitmeier navigator (escaped); TSgt Phillip B Latta radio (escaped); TSgt Leo E Dusmenil mechanic (prisoner); SSgt Graham S Hasty gunner (prisoner); SSgt Homer G Collier gunner (escaped); Lt John B Mead was rescued by Robert Lyon ("SOE Acolyte" cell) and enlisted in the Fragny underground, he would prove himself in the liberation of Rouen and Lyon.

Source: Aerosteles.net

Monument Text:

Upper plaque:

DANS LA NUIT DU 5 AU 6 MAI 1944, UN AVION AMÉRICAIN B24 LIBERATOR, DU 801^st BOMB GROUP DE LA 8^th AIR FORCE BASÉE EN ANGLETERRE, EFFECTUAIT UNE MISSION DE PARACHUTAGE DESTINÉE AU MAQUIS. TOUCHÉ PAR LA «FLAK» ALLEMANDE IL S'ABATTAIT EN

FEU ET EXPLOSAIT DANS LE BOIS DE BRATHE À MABLY.

English translation:

ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 5-6, 1944, AN AMERICAN B24 LIBERATOR AIRCRAFT, FROM THE 801st BOMB GROUP OF THE ENGLAND-BASED 8th AIR FORCE, WAS EXECUTING A PARACHUTE MISSION TO FRENCH RESISTANCE. HIT BY GERMAN FLAK, IT WENT DOWN IN FLAMES

AND EXPLODED IN THE BOIS DE BRATHE AT MABLY.

Middle plaque:

Les huit membres d'équipage sautèrent en parachute entre Chenay-le-Châtel et Mably. Six d'entre eux purent échapper aux patrouilles allemandes, grâce à l'aide courageuse de quelques habitants de la région.

S/Lt. Murray Louis SIMON	pilote
S/Lt. French Malcom RUSSEL	copilote
Lt. John Arthur REITMEIER	navigateur
T/Sgt. Phillip Brooks LATTA	radio
S/Sgt. Homer Glenn COLLIER	mitrailleur
Lt. John Burleigh MEAD	bombardier

Les deux autres:

S/Sgt. Graham Stubbs HASTY mitrailleur fut blessé et fait prisonnier

T/Sgt. Léo François DUMESNIL mécanicien fut capturé et fait prisonnier

English translation:

The eight crew members parachuted between Chenay-le-Châtel and Mably. Six of them managed to escape German patrols, thanks to the courageous help of some local residents.

S/Lt. Murray Louis SIMON	pilot
S/Lt. French Malcom RUSSEL	copilot
Lt. John Arthur REITMEIER	navigator
T/Sgt. Phillip Brooks LATTA	radio
S/Sgt. Homer Glenn COLLIER	gunner
Lt. John Burleigh MEAD	bombardier