On a wall inside the hall.

A rectangular, color-printed plaque, containing the photo of 1Lt Donovan and his plane as well as the story of his crash and his escape through France. The plaque is written in French and English.

The mission for the 355th Fighter Group that day was to disrupt communications and cut off the mainline railroad to Normandy. When 1Lt Donovan’s plane was hit, he knew he was in trouble. Still having enough speed from his strafing run, he successfully got his Mustang to a higher altitude and was able to bail out. As he parachuted down, he saw the Germans coming for him. He landed safely in a field, quickly removed his parachute, and ran into the nearby woods to hide. He was in Chalais, a small town located in the Department of Charente about 55 miles northeast of Bordeaux. This is where the story began of his three-month escape from German-occupied France. With the help of the French network, he returned to the UK on September 6, 1944, via Gibraltar.

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net, www.fighterpilotpodcast.com

Source of photos: www.aerosteles.net

8 JUIN 1944

CRASH DU LIEUTENANT DAVID A. DONOVAN

Le 8 juin 1944, le Lieutenant David A. Donovan, pilote de chasse américain du 358th Fighter Squadron, prend part à une mission de mitraillage d'axes ferroviaires dans l'ouest de la France afin de ralentir la progression des troupes allemandes qui se dirigent vers la Normandie.

Survolant la Charente à bord de son avion de chasse, le P-51 B Mustang "Mary Joyce', ce dernier est atteint par la défense antiaérienne de la ville de Chalais et doit sauter en parachute au-dessus de Montboyer. Il touche le sol au lieu-dit Le But pendant que son avion s'écrase à Moulin-Poisnaud.

Avec l'aide précieuse d'hommes et de femmes courageux, tenaces et dévoués, parfois au péril de leur vie, le Lieutenant David A Donovan réussit l'exploit de rejoindre son unité, puis sa famille, après 3 mots d'évasion à travers la France.

_____________________________________

On June 8, 1944, Lieutenant David A. Donovan, an American fighter pilot of the 358th Fighter Squadron, takes part in a strafing mission of railroads in the west of France in order to stop the advance of the German troops who were heading towards Normandy.

Flying over the Charente aboard his fighter plane, the P-51 B Mustang "Mary-Joyce", he is hit by the air defense of the city of Chalais and must parachute over Montboyer. He landed at Le But while his plane crashes at Moulin-Potsnaud.

With the invaluable help of brave, tenacious and dedicated men and women, sometimes at the risk of their lives, Lieutenant David A. Donovan achieves the feat of joining his unit, then his family, after three months of escape through France.