B-24 Liberator (42-50954) Memorial -458th Bomber Group
Details:
On the north side of the intersection beside the Place Yvette André sign.
A tapering rough-hewn stone monument on a one step base bearing a rectangular white plaque. The plaque commemorates the crash and lists the crew members of the airplane. The image depicted on the top of the plaque is the 8th Air Force insignia while the inscription that follows is written in French. 42-50954 crashed near the hamlet after it was shot down by flak during a mission. The incident resulted in the deaths of two crew members. The rest of the members survived and were sent back to England.
Source of photos: Claude Dannau / www.aerosteles.net
Monument Text:
Le 16 janvier 1945, prés du hameau de Ferrierés,
s'est écrasé le bombardier américain:
B 24 J - 50954 "Liberator" de la 8th U.S. Army Air Force.
L'éverement touché par la DCA allemande, au dessus de Magdebourg
son équipage réussit l'exploit de maitriser son avion en perdition
et à rejoindre notre pays libéré. A court de carburant, l'ordre d'evacuer
l'appareil fut donné en survolant Fontenailles.
Deux mitrailleurs n'ont pas survécu à leur atterrissage.
L' equipage
|
Lt John W. MORAN Major PHILLIPS Major VACEK Lt TRASKIN Lt Franck ADAMS Sgt cf ARMSTRONG Sgt cf Clifford VAN NESS Sgt cf Théodoro URBANO Sgt cf Maurice L. WATSON Sgt cf Richard B. SMITH Sgt cf Harold JONES |
Pilote et chef de bord Pilote Bombardier 1er Navigateur Sd Navigateur Radariste Radio Mécanicien Mitrailleur Mitrailleur (dcd) Mitrailleur (dcd) |
Les Sergents-chefs SMITH et JONES ont donné leur vie
pour la défense de notre LIBERTE et la lutte contre le Nazisme
NE LES OUBLIONS PAS...!
English translation:
On January 16, 1945, near the hamlet of Ferrierés,
the American bomber:
B 24 J - 50954 "Liberator" of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force crashed.
The aircraft was hit by German anti-aircraft fire over Magdeburg,
its crew succeeded in overpowering their sinking aircraft
and reached our liberated homeland. Having run out of fuel,
an evacuation order was given over Fontenailles.
Two machine gunners did not survive the landing.
The crew
|
Lt John W. MORAN Major PHILLIPS Major VACEK Lt TRASKIN Lt Franck ADAMS Sgt cf ARMSTRONG Sgt cf Clifford VAN NESS Sgt cf Théodoro URBANO Sgt cf Maurice L. WATSON Sgt cf Richard B. SMITH Sgt cf Harold JONES |
Pilot and Captain Pilot Bombardier 1st Navigator 2nd Navigator Radar operator Radio operator Mechanic Gunner Gunner (deceased) Machine gunner (deceased) |
Staff Sergeants SMITH and JONES gave their lives
for the defense of our FREEDOM and the fight against Nazism
LET US NOT FORGET THEM...!
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
458th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
755th Bomber Squadron, 458th Bomber Group
8th Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
