2LT William Kiggens, P-51 (43-24854) 'Miss Betty' Crash Memorial
Details:
Next to the town war memorial across from the church. Monument
An inscribed marble obelisk.
The memorial remembers 2LT William Lyle Kiggens of the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group. On October 11, 1944 he was piloting his P-51B Mustang #43-24854 "Miss Betty" when he took off from San Severo Air Field in Italy for a mission over Czechoslovakia. He lost speed during a low attack against a railway station, and crashed and KIA. He was buried in the local cemetery until September 1946 when he was repatriated to his family cemetery in Ohio.
Source:
www.Vets.cz
Monument Text:
The text on the monument is inscribed in Czech and reads:
31. FG/308. FS
PORUČÍK ARMÁDNÍHO LETECTVA U.S.A.
(2/LT. U.S.A.A.F.)
WILLIAM L. KIGGINS
*25. 8. 1923 – Toledo Ohio, U.S.A.
11. 10. 1944
POLOŽIL SVŮJ ŽIVOT
ZA SVOBODU NAŠÍ VLASTI
PŘI BOJOVÉ AKCI U SLATINY
JAKO HLOUBKOVÝ STÍHAČ
V LETOUNU N.A. P-51B MUSTANG
A DO ZÁŘÍ 1946 BYL POHŘBEN
NA MÍSTNÍM HŘBITOVĚ.
The English Translation:
31. FG/308. FS
U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT
(2/LT. U.S.A.A.F.)
WILLIAM L. KIGGINS
*25. 8. 1923 - Toledo Ohio, U.S.A.
11/10/1944
HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE
FOR THE FREEDOM OF OUR MOTHERLAND
DURING THE COMBAT ACTION AT SLATINA
AS A DEEP RECON FIGHTER
IN A P-51B MUSTANG
AND UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1946 HE WAS BURIED
AT THE LOCAL CEMETERY.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
15th Air Force
308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
