B-17 (42-5788) 'Pluto's Avenger' Crash Memorial -303rd Bomber Group
Details:
At the traffic circle intersection; on the outer side of the circle. Monument
A brick wall with two plaques attached to the front.
The memorial remembers the B-17 (42-5788) 'Pluto's Avenger' of the 360th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomber Group. The Morrin Crew B-17 is also know as "Pluto's Avenger : AOG Not in Stock : AOG Not in Stock".
On 22 February 1944, Mission #111, to Aschersleben, Germany in B-17F #42-5788 Pluto's Avenger (360th BS, 303rd BG) B-17 was hit by German fighters. It had peeled off under control in a shallow dive. The #4 engine was smoking. It crashed near Duffel, 15 km SW of Antwerp, Belgium. The regular Morrin Crewmen were flying on their 4th credited combat mission with the first mission on 3 February 1944. Flying as an observer with the Morrin Crew was Major George R. Weinbrenner who managed to evade capture and eventually made his way back to England. Major Weinbrenner was from USAF Headquarters in London and was working on a top secret project to develop rockets that were to be fired upwards from formations in an attempt to shoot down enemy aircraft that were flying above 8th Air Force formations and dropping bombs to hit formation bombers.
The crew included:
2Lt John R. Morrin (P)(POW);
2Lt Richard X. Sheehan (CP)(POW);
2Lt Edward J. Gill (N)(KIA);
2Lt Homer W. Howard (B)(POW);
T/Sgt John A. Beck (Eng)(POW);
T/Sgt Frederick J. Cataldi (R)(POW/DOW);
Sgt Donald R. Houser (BTG)(KIA);
Sgt Robert A. DiStasi (LWG)(KIA);
Sgt Eugene H. Kannapel (RWG)(KIA);
Sgt Charles G. Dodge, Jr. (TG)(POW);
Observer: Major George R. Weinbrenner (Evaded Capture)
Source: http://www.303rdbg.com/360morrin.html
Monument Text:
The text on the plaques is written in Flemish. The English reads:
The text on the plaque on the right reads:
8th US Army Air Force
303th Bomber Group
On February 22 1944 an American B-17 bomber crashed near this location
Here died for our freedom four brave men in the wreckage of the "Pluto's Avenger."
The text on the left plaque gives the names of the members of the Pluto's Avenger group:
2Lt Morrin - P
2Lt R. Sheehan - CP
2Lt E. Gill - N / Died
T/Sgt J. Beck - Eng
T/Sgt F. Cataldi - R
Sgt D. Houser - BTG / Died
Sgt R. DiStasi - WG / Died
Sgt E. Kannapel - RWG / Died
Sgt. C. Dodge, Jr - TG
Maj. G. Weinbrenner
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
303rd Bomber Group
360th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, Heavy
8th Air Force
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
