B-24 “War Bride” (42-52196) Memorial
Details:
Just outside the Kulturhus (Cultural House) in town center.
The memorial is two granite pillars about 6 feet tall with an attached piece of stainless steel in the shape of a wing; a brass inscribed plaque is attached to one of the pillars.
On September 9, 1944, B-24 “War Bride” (42-52196 ) of the 755th Bomber Squadron, 458th Bomber Group flying from Leuchars, Scotland (Operation Carpetbagger) was on an “Operation Ball” mission to resupply Norwegian Resistance fighters at the Crupper 5 rendezvous point. The plane came too low and crashed right under the top of the mountain Skorve near Seljord, Norway. (At a place called Langjefellhaddin). The cause of the accident is believed to be icing on the plane. All 11 crewmembers were killed. Reference: Missing Aircraft Report {MACR} 8420.
At first the crew were buried near the crash site. After the war, in 1950, they were brought back to USA and buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri (SECTION 78 SITE 965-967).
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The Crew of “War Bride” in this “Carpetbagger” mission included:
2LT John B.O'Hara, 22 (pilot)
2LT Delbert E.McCrary, 23 (co-pilot),
2LT Paul Bloomberg,24 (bombardier)
2LT Lewis T.Bambick, 26 (navigator)
S/SGT Robert T.Finn, 23 (engineer)
S/SGT Bernhard F.Gittelman, 23 (radio-operator)
SGT Frank G.Felthouse, 20 (gunner),
S/SGT Norman J McLaughlin, 20 (gunner)
S/SGT Wesley C. Bowman, 21 (gunner)
SGT Hubert D. Bourquin, 29 (gunner)
S/SGT John P.Morris , 22 (gunner).
A memorial remembers the crew at the mountaintop crash site and in the town of Seljord, Noway (See this website for more on the memorials).
Monument Text:
The text is in Norwegian and reads:
Til minne om det amerikanske mannskapet som omkom i flystyrt på Skorve den 9. september 1944." (Followed by the names of the airmen)
"Bygdi reiste dette minne i 1994
The translation in English is:
In memory of the American crew who died in a plane crash at Skorve on September 9, 1944
Lewis T. Bambick, 26
Paul Bloomberg, 24
Hubert D. Bourquin, 29
Wesley C. Bowman, 21
Frank G. Felthouse, 20
Robert T. Finn, 23
Bernhard F. Gittelman, 23
Delbert E. McCrary, 23
Norman J McLaughlin, 20
John P. Morris , 22
John B. O'Hara, 22
The town erected this memorial in 1994
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
458th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
755th Bomber Squadron, 458th Bomber Group
8th Air Force
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Operation Ball
Operation Carpetbagger
Other images :