On the east side of the intersection.

Monument

A chained off obelisk bearing two commemorative plaques, one above the other, that are inscribed in French in engraved and gold lettering. The upper plaque tells a brief description and the significance of the parachuting that was done here by the allies on July 14, 1944. The lower plaque is the commemoration of the 50^th Anniversary of the parachute drop.

On the 14th of July 1944, France's national holiday, 349 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 8th U.S. Air Force 3rd Air Division left their bases in Suffolk and Norfolk escorted and protected by 524 U.S. Air Force Mustangs and Thunderbolts. Their mission, 'Operation Cadillac', was to parachute arms and supplies to the Résistance in the South West and Centre of France. To add to the spectacle the parachutes were in the national colors of France, blue, white, and red.

Their flight would be more than a 1000-mile round trip with a nine-hour duration and the operation was a total success. In total 3791 containers were dropped weighing in at 417 tonnes and supplied the Résistance with much-needed arms, ammunition, and supplies. Six weeks after the drop most of the region had been liberated by the Résistance.

11 American airmen participated in the ceremony for the 50^th Anniversary of the parachute drop. They were the ones who replied favorably to the invitation from the Corréziens. Accompanied by their wives and children, in total 26 people arrived at Moustoulat. They were:

• Mac Barasch, Navigator from Florida
• Lloyd Coartney, Navigator from Illinois
• John Eschbasch, Gunner from Pennsylvania
• Richard Goff, Gunner from Michigan
• Butch Goodwin, Co-Pilot from Arkansas
• Clare Harnden, Tail Gunner from Michigan
• Warren McCoy, Pilot from California
• Louis Quijada, Radio Operator from California
• Mike Spiller, Navigator from Texas
• Bill Terminello, Pilot from California
• Harold Tiahrt, Pilot from Hawaii

Source of information: resistancefrancaise.blogspot.com, www.aerosteles.net

Upper Plaque:

LE 14 JUILLET 1944 À 9 HEURES

SUR L'INITIATIVE DES M.U.R.A.S.

200 AVIONS ALLIÉS

ONT PARACHUTÉ EN CE LIEU

ET DANS LES ENVIRONS

400 TONNES D'ARMES

QUI PERMIRENT À LA CORRÈZE

D'ÊTRE LE PREMIER

DÉPARTEMENT DE FRANCE

LIBÉRÉ PAR SES HÉROÏQUES MAQUISARDS.

English translation:

JULY 14, 1944 AT 9 A.M.

ON THE INITIATIVE OF THE M.U.R.A.S.

200 ALLIED PLANES

PARACHUTED IN THIS PLACE

AND IN THE SURROUNDINGS

400 TONS OF WEAPONS

WHICH ALLOWED THE CORRÈZE

TO BE THE FIRST

DEPARTMENT OF FRANCE

LIBERATED BY ITS HEROIC MAQUISARDS.

Lower plaque:

16 JUILLET 1994

HOMMAGE AUX AVIATEURS AMÉRICAINS

VENUS COMMÉMORER AVEC LA RÉSISTANCE

LE CINQUANTENAIRE DE CE PARACHUTAGE

HISTORIQUE

English translation:

JULY 16, 1994

TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN AIRMEN

WHO CAME TO COMMEMORATE TOGETHER WITH THE RESISTANCE

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HISTORICAL

PARACHUTE DROP