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2LT Russell Meyrick Marker - B-17 (42-97159) 'Tail End Charlie', Mission 263

<< Back to Rudice (Ziln)- Woods (Amerika)

Details:

In the treeline a 150 meters from roadway and German memorial,

The memorial includes a piece of the aircraft that is inscribed along with a photo.  It is attached to what is know as Meyrick's tree.

The memorial marks the location where Second Lieutenant Russell W. Meyrick, Bombardier on the B-17 (42-97159) 'Tail End Charlie' was found with a portion of the aircraft on August 29, 1944 after the "Air Battle over the White Carpathians". He was later buried in the Rudice Cemetery where he is remembered today with a cenotaph.

On August 29, 2944, the 15th Air Force conducted "Mission 263",  a raid on the Moravska Ostrava industrial complex (current-day city of Ostrava). The 2nd Bomber group supported this mission flying from flying from Amendola Air Base, Foggia, Italy. as become known as the "Air Battle over the White Carpathians", nine B-17Gs from 2nd Bomber Group were attacked by 89 German fighters and 20 minutes later eight of them were shot down and crashed in Slovakia (1), Czech Republic (7) and one crash landed in Hungary.  41 US airmen lost their lives, 28 of them were buried in a mass grave in Slavicin. Four fliers evaded capture, and 55 airmen ended up in German POW camps. All the planes of the 20th Bomber Squadron were shot down that day; 1/Lt. William S. Tune, Pilot on this bomber was also the Commander of the 20th Bomber Squadron. Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8763.

 

2/Lt. Russell W. Meyrick is also remembered along with Sgt Joseph Marinello at the B-17 (42-97159) 'Tail End Charlie' Crew Cenotaph- Mission 2632, located at Site Rudice (Ziln)-Cemetery.

 

Several museums in the area also remember this battle.  See sites: Sanov; Slavicin, and Bojkovice.

Search "Mission 263" for memorials and cenotaphs associated with this event on our website.

 

For more information, the  see the Air Battle over the White Carpathian website at: www.leteckabitvakarpaty.cz 

Special thanks to Mission 263 - Aug 29,1944 / Letecká bitva 29.8.1944 Facebook page & group for remembering this battle and for the several memorials that remember this mission.

Monument Text:

The text on the plaque is written in Czech and reads:

 

DNE 29.8.1944
ZAHYNUL V TCHTO MÍSTECH
2/Lt. RUSSELL W. MEYRICK
BOMBOMETÍK LETOUNU
B-17G FLYING FORTRESS
.159 TAIL END CHARLIE
15. U.S.ARMY AIR FORCE

 

Translation:

Date August 29, 1944

Died at this location

2LT Russell W. Meyrick

Bombadier

B-17G Flying Fortress

C.159 "Tail End Charlie"

15th US Air Force

Commemorates:

Units:

15th Air Force

20th Bombardment Squadron

2nd Bomber Group

Wars:

WWII

Other images :