Mounted on a wall inside the church.

A rectangular metal plaque affixed on a wooden backboard and inscribed in English in black lettering. The depiction of the 391^st BG is the printed image on the top center of the plaque. The plaque commemorates the 391st Bombardment Group (M) which was based at Matching Airfield (RAF Matching or Matching Green) from February 1944 to October 1944. 

Matching was known as USAAF Station AAF-166 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of the location. Its USAAF Station Code was "MT".

391st Bombardment Group

The first combat organization, the 391st Bombardment Group, arrived at Matching on 26 January 1944 from Goodman AAF, Kentucky flying Martin B-26 Marauders. Operational squadrons of the group were:

• 572d Bombardment Squadron (P2)
• 573d Bombardment Squadron (T6)
• 574th Bombardment Squadron (4L)
• 575th Bombardment Squadron (O8)

 The group marking was a yellow triangle painted on the tail fin of their B-26s.

The first mission was flown on 15 February and 150 more were completed before the group moved into France in late September 1944. The group moved onto the continent, transferring to Roye/Amy, France (ALG A-73) on 19 September 1944. The group then switched to Douglas A-26 Invaders and flew its last mission on 3 May 1945 from Asche, Belgium (ALG Y-29).

The 391st Bomb Group returned to the United States in October and was inactivated at Camp Shanks, New York on 25 October 1945.

With the move of the 391st to France, this was the end of Matching airfield's association with the Ninth Air Force as a combat airfield.

Source of information: en.wikipedia.org

Source of photo: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

391^st Bombardment

Group

BETWEEN JANUARY AND OCTOBER 1944 AMERICAN AIRMEN OF THE 391st BOMB GROUP, 9th AIR FORCE WERE STATIONED AT MATCHING GREEN. WHILST DAILY ENGAGED IN REDUCING GERMAN POSITIONS ACROSS THE CHANNEL THEY WERE RECEIVED WITH WARM HOSPITALITY, KINDNESS, UNDERSTANDING AND FRIENDSHIP IN THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES.

DURING THESE MONTHS THE GROUP FLEW 6,000 SORTIES AND DROPPED 18 MILLION POUNDS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES ON HITLER'S EUROPEAN FORTRESS, SUFFERING THE LOSS OF 197 AIRMEN KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING.

THE PLAQUE IS PLACED HERE BY THE SURVIVING OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE GROUP, IN MEMORY OF OUR FRIENDS WHO DID NOT COME BACK, AND IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP, WITH THE HOPE THAT AMERICANS AND ENGLISHMEN WILL CONTINUE TO STAND TOGETHER IN THE GREAT TRIALS STILL TO COME FOR FREE MEN.