Seven Airmen Memorial – B-17 (43-37909), 486th Bomber Group
Details:
On the edge of the town war memorial park next to a park bench. Monument
A brass inscribed plaque attached to a honed field stone about 3-4 feet high.
On August 4, 1944, B-17 (43-37909) of the 832nd Bomber Squadron, 486th Bomber Group, 8th US Air Force departed USAAF Base 174 (RAF Sudbury) to take part on a bombing raid over Hamburg, Germany (Mission # 514). On route to the bombing site, while receiving flak, B-17 #909 slightly collided with B-17 (43-38145). Two of the #909 crew bailed out and the pilots of the B-17 aircraft were able to stabilize the plane and crash land on the beach of German East Frisian island of Borkum in the North Sea. The crew was captured, marched to town where they were subsequently executed. After the war, the perpetrators of the executions were tried, found guilty, and convicted to death for their crimes. In the early 1950s the sentences were commuted.
The town placed a memorial remembering the seven executed airmen in 2004. The two airmen who baled out became POWs and survived the war.
CREW INFO:
Name Rank Position Status
Harvey M. Walthall 2nd LT Pilot KIA
William J. Myers 2nd LT Co-pilot KIA
Quentin F. Ingerson 2nd LT Navigator POW (Stalag Luft 3-Sagan)
Howard S. Graham 2nd LT Bombardier KIA
Kazmer Rachak SGT Engineer/Top POW (Stalag Luft 4- G. Tychow)
Kenneth Faber SGT Radioman KIA
James W. Danno SGT Ball Gunner KIA
William F. Dold SGT Waist Gunner KIA
William W. Lambertus SGT Tail Gunner KIA
Source: 486th Bomber Group Association Website (Walthall’s Crew -https://www.486th.org/BS832/Walthall.htm)
Monument Text:
The text on the plaque is written in German and English.
The English reads:
In memory
Of those US Airmen,
who were killed under tragic
circumstances on August 4th 1944
After being captured on our island.
2nd. Lt. Harvey M. Walthall Sgt. Kenneth Faber
2nd. Lt. William J. Myers Sgt James W. Danno
2nd. Lt. Howard S. Graham Sgt. William F. Dodd
Sgt William W. Lambertus
With them we also commemorate the millions of soldiers from many countries who, contrary to international agreements on the treatment of prisoners of war, lost their lives in captivity”
Rotary Club Borkum, 2003
The German reads:
„Zum Gedenken an die Soldaten der US-Airforce, die am 04. August 1944 auf unserer Insel nach ihrer Gefangennahme auf tragische Weise ihr Leben verloren.
2nd. Lt. Harvey M. Walthall
2nd. Lt. William J. Myers
2nd. Lt. Howard S. Graham
Sgt. Kenneth Faber
Sgt. James W. Danno
Sgt. William F. Dold
Sgt. William W. Lambertus
Mit ihnen gedenken wir auch der Millionen Soldaten vieler Länder, die entgegen den internationalen Abkommen über die Behandlung von Kriegsgefangenen in der Gefangenschaft ihr Leben lassen mussten.“
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
486th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
832nd Bomber Squadron, 486th Bomb Group
8th Air Force
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
