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B-17 42-3147 Homesick Angel Marker

<< Back to Istres Ranquet Roundabout

Details:

On the west side off the road. It is placed on the right side of the Homesick Angel monument. Marker

Two blue plaques attached on both sides of a small plinth, inscribed in French text in memory of the fallen crew of the B-17 “Homesick Angel” in World War II. Front and back plaques are inscribed samely.

 

The plane, flying in the #3 position of the 2nd element was making a second pass on the target, Istres Le Tube Airdrome when flames were seen in the cockpit and along the #3 engine. The plane momentarily held course then dropped down to the right. The plane had been hit by flak. It was observed to crash into a lake.  No parachutes were observed.

 

Another witness states the flak hit in/near the right front side of bomb bay setting it on fire. As the plane turned out of formation, he could see the entire area from the left side of the bomb bay out to the #3 engine on the right wing was on fire.  Again, no chutes were seen.  When the plane hit the lake (Lake Berre), all he could see was a mass of flames. The target airfield was located next to Lake Berre.

 

The MACR contains no other statements about what happened. The crew list in the MACR has the entire crew KIA except for SSgt. Kenneth O. Eslick.

Source of info: https://flgrube1.tripod.com

Monument Text:

Rond-Point en hommage à l'equipage

Du

 

"HOMESICK ANGEL"

 

Inauguré le 6 avril 2013 par

M. François BERNARDINI

Maire d'Istres

Vice-Président de Ouest Provence

 

 

English translation:

 

Roundabout in tribute to the crew

of

"HOMESICK ANGEL"

 

Inaugurated on April 6, 2013 by

Mr. François BERNARDINI

Mayor of Istres

Vice-President of Ouest Provence

Commemorates:

People:

Charles D., Jr. Atkins

Leon E., Jr. Case

Daniel E. Dustin

James Morgan “Jimmy” Elliott

Kenneth O.  Eslick

Leo Frances Garrity

Melvin E. Hertel

Earl Wayne, Jr. Large

Richard A., Jr. Packard

William D. Waters

Units:

15th Air Force

341st Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bomber Group

97th Bomb Group

United States Air Force

Wars:

WWII