Monument Details

US Navy Carrier Operation Losses - Operation Dragoon

Details:

On the outside wall of the town hall in Pennautier. Plaque A stone plaque engraved with French text.

The plaque remembers US Navy Carrier Operations over France in 1944 during Operation Dragoon. With the assistance of local resistance, LT James M. Alston was able to escape and evade back to service. He was later KIA in operations over Okinawa in 1945.

Monument Text:

- EN HOMMAGE -

LT CDR W. F. BRINGLE

ENS J. DENISON #3

In the trapezoid:

US-NAVY

(VOF-01)

(VF-74)

#2 ENS W. C. MCKEEVER

ENS CH. P. SKELLY #4

#5 LT J. M. ALSTON

LT W. R. CANDLER #6

#7 ENS R. FENZEL

USS TULAGI (CVE 72), USS KAASAN BAY (CVE 69)

INSCRITS DANS LE CIEL PENNAUTIEROIS

LE 20 AOUT 1944

STRAFING FLIGHT #60

HEROS LEGENDAIRES VENU D'AILLEURS,

LIBERER LE SOL FRANCAIS DE L'OCCUPANT.

PURS SYMBOLS DE L'ABNEGNATION ET DE LA BRAVOURE.

LE LT J. M. ALSTON, PILOTE, ABBATU, TOUCHE NOTRE SOL,

AS PLUS, CONNAIT LE MAQUIS, RETOURNE AU COMBAT.

GRATITUDE ET RECONNAISSANCE A TOUS LES OUBLIES

DE CES UNITES QUI PARTICIPERENT

ET PERDRENT POUR NOTRE LIBERTE.

English translation:

In honor of (list names, list units, list ships) engraved in the sky above Pennautier on 20 August 1944, Strafing Flight #60, legendary heroes from afar, liberated French soil from its occupant, pure symbols of self-sacrifice and bravery. LT Alston, the pilot, was shot down, touched our soil, escaped, contacted the resistance, and returned to combat. Gratitude and recognition of all of the forgotten in these units who participated and lost for our liberty.

Commemorates:

People:

Units:

French Resistance

Naval Aviation