Monument Details

B-17 42-5780 'Black Swan’ Monument

Details:

On the northern side of Rue Beau-Soleil, nestled in the hedgerow.

Monument

An upright, rectangular, stone monument bearing a black rectangular panel that contains a commemoration message and a list of names of the plane crew, their age, and status, written in French in gold and incised lettering. The story of the crash is detailed in the information sign available next to the monument.

Source of photos: Pierre Pecastaingts, David Crooks / www.aerosteles.net

Monument Text:

A LA MÉMOIRE DES AVIATEURS AMERICAINS

du B-17F 42-5780 GN-N "Black Swan"

303rd Bomb Group - 427th Squadron

ABATTU PAR LA CHASSE ALLEMANDE

Le 1^er MAI 1943 à 11 H 24

1 Lt	STERLING Jay R. Pilot	25 ans	Tué
2 Lt	Neill John L. Co-Pilot	25 ans	Prisonnier
2 Lt	ROACH Harry E. Jr. Navigator	22 ans	Évadé
2 Lt	PARKER David H. Bombardier	25 ans	Prisonnier
T/Sgt	Fields Harley W. Radio Operator	20 ans	Tué
T/Sgt	GRIFFIN Powell E. Engineer/Top Turret Gunner	24 ans	Prisonnier
S/Sgt	McCORMACK Arthur R. Ball Turret Gunner	31 ans	Tué
S/Sgt	WHALON William R. Left Waist Gunner	23 ans	Tué
S/Sgt	CASHMAN Daniel J. Right Waist Gunner	20 ans	Tué
S/Sgt	CLEAVLIN Jessie C. Tail Gunner	23 ans	Tué

English translation:

IN MEMORY OF THE AMERICAN AIRMEN

of the B-17F 42-5780 GN-N "Black Swan”

303rd Bomb Group - 427th Squadron

SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN FIGHTERS

ON MAY 1, 1943 at 11:24 AM

1 Lt	STERLING Jay R. Pilot	25 yrs old	Killed
2 Lt	Neill John L. Co-Pilot	25 yrs old	Prisoner
2 Lt	ROACH Harry E. Jr. Navigator	22 yrs old	Evaded
2 Lt	PARKER David H. Bombardier	25 yrs old	Prisoner
T/Sgt	Fields Harley W. Radio Operator	20 yrs old	Killed
T/Sgt	GRIFFIN Powell E. Engineer/Top Turret Gunner	24 yrs old	Prisoner
S/Sgt	McCORMACK Arthur R. Ball Turret Gunner	31 yrs old	Killed
S/Sgt	WHALON William R. Left Waist Gunner	23 yrs old	Killed
S/Sgt	CASHMAN Daniel J. Right Waist Gunner	20 yrs old	Killed
S/Sgt	CLEAVLIN Jessie C. Tail Gunner	23 yrs old	Killed