East corner of the beach.

Monument

A stone monument featuring a central rectangular plaque commemorates the crew of the B-24H (42-52463) “Table Stuff”, whose aircraft was lost on May 25, 1944. The plaque, written in French, lists the names of the 11 crew members who perished. A model of the B-24 bomber is mounted above the monument. The memorial was inaugurated on May 23, 2025.

On May 25, 1944, during an air raid on a strategic railway junction near Lyon, B‑24H 42‑52463 “Table Stuff” was critically damaged by German defenses. The crew bailed out into the Mediterranean off the French coast; tragically, neither survivors nor wreckage were ever recovered.

Source of information: www.aero-relic.org

À LA MÉMOIRE

DE L’ÉQUIPAGE DU BOMBARDIER B-24 DE L’US AIR FORCE,

DISPARU AU LARGE DE MANDELIEU-LA NAPOULE

LE 25 MAI 1944

ET À TOUS LES AVIATEURS QUI ONT PÉRI DANS LA PLUS

GRANDE BATAILLE AÉRIENNE DE L’HISTOIRE

___________________________________

LA VILLE DE MANDELIEU-LA NAPOULE RECONNAISSANTE

Capitaine Robert L. Chesser – Chef de mission

Sous Lieutenant Donald S. Garniss – Pilote

Sous Lieutenant John A. Duricho – Copilote

Sous Lieutenant Ernest C. Hindle – Navigateur 

Sous Lieutenant John K. Rankin Jr. – Bombardier 

Sergent-chef  Edward C. Brown – Radio mitrailleur

Sergent John J. Dodd – Radio mitrailleur

Sergent Edwin C. Every – Mitrailleur ventral

Sergent Frank Tafelski – Mécanicien-mitrailleur

Sergent Robert D. Frankenberger – Arrière mitrailleur 

Sergent Louis A. Howarth Jr. – Arrière mitrailleur

Stèle inaugurée, le 23 mai 2025,

Par Sébastien LEROY,

Maire de Mandelieu-La Napoule

English Translation:

IN MEMORY

OF THE CREW OF THE B-24 BOMBER OF THE US AIR FORCE,

MISSING OFF THE COAST OF MANDELIEU-LA NAPOULE

ON MAY 25, 1944

AND TO ALL THE AIRMEN WHO PERISHED IN THE GREATEST

AERIAL BATTLE IN HISTORY

THE CITY OF MANDELIEU-LA NAPOULE IS GRATEFUL

Captain Robert L. Chesser – Mission Commander

Second Lieutenant Donald S. Garniss – Pilot

Second Lieutenant John A. Duricho – Co-pilot

Second Lieutenant Ernest C. Hindle – Navigator

Second Lieutenant John K. Rankin Jr. – Bombardier

Staff Sergeant Edward C. Brown – Radio Gunner

Sergeant John J. Dodd – Radio Gunner

Sergeant Edwin C. Every – Belly Gunner

Sergeant Frank Tafelski – Mechanic Gunner

Sergeant Robert D. Frankenberger – Tail Gunner

Sergeant Louis A. Howarth Jr. – Tail Gunner

Stele was inaugurated on May 23, 2025,

By Sébastien LEROY,

Mayor of Mandelieu-La Napoule