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B-24 Liberator (42-7593) 'Blunder Bus' Memorial

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Details:

On the north side of the D-153 (rue de la Metaine) at it's intersection with the D-29 in Auffains.


Monument
A rough field stone with a dark stone plaque on the side and a plastic plaque on top describing the mission and crash of the B-24 "Blunder Bus" and honoring its crew. 

The B-24 Liberator “Blunder Bus” (565th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomb Group) took off from Norfolk at 0800 as part of 420 American bombers determined to destroy the FG Farben chemical plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The plane was shot down by Fw190 of the JG2 over Chateauneuf sur Loire between 1300 and 1330. One crewmember perished in the crash and the rest were able to evade the scene. The monument was dedicated on 7 September 2013 by the Commune at the initiative of Mr. Jean Claude Grassin who, at the age of four, witnessed the crash and then researched the history 70 years later.

Monument Text:

CRASH du 7 janvier 1944

EN SOUVENIR DES AVIATORS AMERICAINS

 

2nd LT ROYCE E. SMITH

S.Sgt Robert G. HAUGHER

2nd LT Robert H. HIRSCH

S.Sgt James Jr DILLON (*)

2nd LT Duane C. STRAYER

Sgt   Thomas L. BURTON

1st LT Francis J. THACKRAY(**)

Sgt   William J. DONLEY

Flight Officer Revis L. SMITH

Sgt   Relius E. NOBLES

 

Sgt   Edward J. GILBERT

 

 

English translation:

 

CRASH of January 7, 1944

IN MEMORY OF THE AMERICAN AVIATORS

 

2nd LT ROYCE E. SMITH

S.Sgt Robert G. HAUGHER

2nd LT Robert H. HIRSCH

S.Sgt James Jr DILLON (*)

2nd LT Duane C. STRAYER

Sgt   Thomas L. BURTON

1st LT Francis J. THACKRAY(**)

Sgt   William J. DONLEY

Flight Officer Revis L. SMITH

Sgt   Relius E. NOBLES

 

Sgt   Edward J. GILBERT

 

Commemorates:

People:

Thomas L.  Burton

James Jr. Dillon

William J.  Donley

Edward J.  Gilbert

Robert G.  Hauger

Robert H.  Hirsch

Relius Nobles

Revis Leonard Smith

Royce E.  Smith

Duane C.  Strayer

Francis Thackray

Units:

389th Bomber Group (Heavy)

565th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomb Group

8th Air Force

United States Air Force

Wars:

WWII

Other images :