B-24-H Liberator 42-64445 'Patsy Jack' Monument
Details:
In front of the town church directly below its wooden cross.
A smooth black stone monument with gold lettering surrounded by a green pole fence commemorating American aviators who bailed out over the area.
Monument Text:
AIR FORCE
49ème BOMBER WING
451ème BOMBER GROUP
727ème SQUADRON
A LA GLOIRE
DE L'EQUIPAGE DU B-24 H LIBERATOR "PATSY JACK" N42-64445
2 AOUT 1944, MISSION DE BOMBARDEMENT DE
LA RAFFINERIE D'HUILE "LE PONTET"
ATTEINT PAR LA FLAK, TROUVE REFUGE EN HAUTE-LOIRE
L'EQUIPAGE EVACUE L'APPAREIL EN FEU,
LE LIEUTENANT GEORGE CAPPLEMAN, PILOTE,
RESTE AUX COMMANDES DE L'APPAREIL EN PERDITION,
LE TEMPS DE TROUVER UN SYSTEME D'AMARRAGE
DES COMMANDES DE VOL, AFIN QUE SON APPAREIL NE
S'ECRASE SUR LES HAMEAUX QUI SONT SUR SA ROUTE.
2eme LIEUTENANT CAPPLEMAN GEORGE S. PILOTE 2eme LIEUTENANT PAULSELL WARREN B. COPILOTE 1er LIEUTENANT GILLIES ROBERT W. NAVIGATEUR - BOMBARDIER SERGENT LEWIS JAMES H. MECANICIEN - MITRAILLEUR, TOURELLE SUPERIEURE SERGENT MEUNIER WISTON K - MITRAILLEUR BOULE SUPERIEURE SERGENT ZUKOSKY THEODORE RADIO OPERATEUR - MITRAILLEUR GAUCHE SERGENT DOW THOMAS K. MITRAILLEUR TOURELLE DE NEZ SERGENT LIZOTTE GEORGE H. MITRAILLEUR DROIT SERGENT MEHL HAROLD R. MITRAILLEUR TOURELLE DE QUEUE |
MORT POUR LES ETATS UNIS D'AMERIQUE, MORT POUR LA FRANCE
SERGENT DANDREW WINSTON F. PHOTOGRAPHE - MITRAILLEUR
NOUS NE LES OUBLIERONS PAS - SEMPER FIDELIS - WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
LES VILLES DE RIOTORD - DUNIERES RECONNAISSANTES - 6 AOUT 1995
English translation:
Air Force
49th Bomber Wing
451st Bomb Group
727th Squadron
To the glory of the crew of the B-24 H Liberator "Patsy Jack" N42-64445. They were hit by flak on a bombing mission over the Pontet oil refinery on August 2nd 1944 and retreated to the Haute Loire region. The crew bailed out of the burning aircraft while pilot Lt George Cappleman stayed on board to rig the controls so the plane wouldn't crash into one of the many villages in their path.
2nd Lt George S. Cappleman - Pilot
2nd Lt Paulsell Warren B. - Copilot
1st Lt Gillies Robert W. Navigator - Bombardier
Sgt Lewis James H. Mechanic - Top turret gunner
Sgt Meunier Wiston K. - Forward top gunner
Sgt Zukosky Theodore - Radio operator - Left waist gunner
Sgt Dow Thomas K. - Nose gunner
Sgt Lizotte George H. - Right waist gunner
Sgt Mehl Harold R. - Tail gunner
Died for the United States of America, Died for France
Sgt Dandrew Winston F. - Photographer - Gunner
We will never forget them - Semper Fidelis - We will remember them
Gratitude from the towns of Riotord and Dunieres August 6th 1995
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
15th Air Force
727th Bomb Squadron (Heavy), 451st Bomb Group
United States Air Force
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
