On the west side of the junction.

Marker

A black rectangular plaque mounted on a boulder beside an information sign. The plaque is inscribed with a commemoration message as well as etched images of a B-17 and the 8^th Air Force insignia. The information board beside this stone memorial tells the fate of their mission written in French. 

On September 3, 1943, the Allies landed in Reggio Calabria and the Italian government signed the armistice in Syracuse. It was also the second USAAF sortie in force over French territory, targeting the Caudron-Renault factories in Billancourt and the airfields occupied by the Luftwaffe. The 8th USAAF lost eight of the seventy-two Fortresses involved.

Billancourt is covered by clouds. While passing over the target, Fortress B-17 42-30035 XR-H "Torchy" of the 349th BS was hit in the rear by one of the propellers of another Fortress, B-17 42-30089 EP-K "Sunny" of the 351st BS. The tail gunner, Staff Sergeant Ennis M. Bankhead, was killed in his turret. As the two fortresses continued on their way, the Torchy was hit head-on by flak, and the pilot gave the order to evacuate. The disabled Torchy crashed in the Chemin de la pente de Bray, in Cerny.

Two crew members were picked off the ground by Wehrmacht soldiers, while the other seven were rescued by local residents and handed over to escape networks such as Bourgogne (Gabrielle Wiame, "the Lady in Red") and Comète.

The crew of the B-17 42-30035 XR-H "Torchy":

WINKELMAN, Charles B. - Pilot

SMITH, Ralph D – Co-Pilot

BOOTH, William H. - Navigator

HARRIS, Howard M. - Bombardier

COMBS, Thomas E. – Engineer/Gunner

RAY, Jean E. – Radio Operator

CUCCARO, Thomas L. – Ball turret Gunner

DARCY, Michael F. – Left Waist Gunner

ZEOLI, Alfred J. – Right Waist Gunner

BANKHEAD, Ennis M. – Tail Gunner

Source of information: www.aerosteles.net, francecrashes39-45.net

Source of photos: Claude Dannau, Philippe Gawski, Jean-Louis Robin

Ici

le 3 September 1943

Le S/Sgt Ennis M. Bankhead

du 349th BS/ 100th BG/ 8th  USAAF

a donné sa vie pour la Liberté.

Ne l'oublions pas.

Engish translation:

Here

on September 3, 1943

S/Sgt Ennis M. Bankhead

of the 349th BS/ 100th BG/ 8th USAAF

gave his life for Freedom.

Let us not forget him.