RAF Greenham Crash Memorial
Details:
At the back side of the control tower building. The memorial was formerly placed near the main entrance to Greenham Common Park. It was moved near the control tower in August 2019.
The memorial consists of three hand-carved grey granite stone monuments situated on a pavement, surrounded by metal fences. Two of the stones feature bronze plaques and carved images of aircraft. Both plaques lists names of soldiers and airmen killed in the two accidents. They also feature unit insignia. These flank a center stone which includes a carved American flag. All text is in English.
The memorial was dedicated on September 21, 2012 by H.R.H. Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, and it was funded by the Royal British Legion of Newbury and the Greenham Common Trust. Newbury-based artist Joss Nankoo designed and carved the memorial by hand.
Source of images: Google Maps
Monument Text:
Stone 1:
B-17
DECEMBER 15, 1944
306th BOMBARDMENT GROUP
1942 | (-306th Bombardment Group insignia-) | 1945 |
IN MEMORY OF THE AIRMEN WHO DIED WHEN TWO B-17 BOMBERS FROM
THE 368th AND 423rd SQUADRON OF THE 306th BOMBARDMENT GROUP
WERE RETURNING FROM A TOUGH MISSION IN THE GERMAN INDUSTRIAL
HEARTLAND OF KASSEL ON DECEMBER 15th 1944 WHEN A TRAGIC
ACCIDENT OCCURRED, KILLING ALL BUT TWO OF THE 18 AMERICAN AIRMEN.
PER USAAF ACCIDENT REPORT DATED JANUARY 1945: "ACCIDENT WAS
UNAVOIDABLE. THE FORMATION RAN INTO CONDITIONS OF EXTREME POOR
VISIBILITY, AND IT IS APPARENT THAT NEITHER PILOT SAW THE OTHER AIRCRAFT"
43-37633: MODEL B-17G-65-BO 306th BOMBING GROUP 368th SQUADRON | 43-38019: MODEL B-17G-75-BO 306th BOMBING GROUP 423rd SQUADRON | ||
|
| ||
2LT | CROOKS, CHARLES A. | F/O | SMOLENSKI, EDWARD S. |
2LT | MOCKUS, JOHN P. | 1LT | GARD, RICHARD E. |
2LT | SLOCOM, ELIJA B. | T/SGT | FARRELL, WILLIAM R. |
T/SGT | POLDERMAN, HAROLD A. | T/SGT | REIS, ROBERT K. |
S/SGT | LAUBERT, WAYNE F. | S/SGT | DEHOFF, WALTER E. |
SGT | SEABERG, ALBERT W. | SGT | BOYLE, WILLIAM J. |
SGT | MANDULA, JOSEPH M. | S/SGT | PASHON, GAIL W. |
SGT | MILLER, RICHARD W. | 2LT | WILKE, LORN A. (SURVIVED) |
SGT | CAIN, LLOYD | 1LT | MURPHY, JOHN A. (SURVIVED) |
★ BATTLE OF THE BULGE | ★ RHINELAND | ★ CENTRAL EUROPE |
First over Germany
Stone 2:
DEDICATED
TO ALL
★
UNITED
STATES
SERVICEMEN
★
WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES
IN THE NAME
OF FREEDOM
Stone 3:
Horsa
December 12, 1944
17th AIRBORNE DIVISION
1943 | (-17th Airborne insignia-) | 1945 |
IN MEMORY OF THE 31 PATRIOTIC AMERICAN GLIDERTROOPERS
OF THE 194th GLIDER INFANTRY REGIMENT AND TWO GLIDER
PILOTS OF THE 88th TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON WHO LOST
THEIR LIVES IN A TRAGIC GLIDER CRASH AT GREENHAM COMMON
DECEMBER 12th 1944. DEDICATED BY THE 17th AIRBORNE DIVISION
ASSOCIATION DECEMBER 12th 1994.
2LT Albury, Charles G. PFC Ambrose, Hollis H. SGT Bangs, Henry W. PFC Bejcek, Norman C. SGT Bloniak, Frank J. PFC Cholewa, Joseph W. PFC Davis, Forrest C. PVT Emory, James L. PFC Esch, Edward F., Jr. 1/SGT Fulton, Charles F. PFC Helfenberg, Stanley B. T/5 Horne, William J. PFC Jones, Evan S. MAJ Klock, James F. PFC Kulikowski, John L. PFC Lindenmuth, Burton E. | PFC MacNeil, Paul D. PFC Mullens, Robert L. PVT Murphy, Gerald L. PFC Neal, Richard J. PFC Nebendahl, Carl P. PFC Paulson, Russell P. PFC Peterson, Paul S. CW/O Smith, Ira E. SGT Swingle, Gilbert L. PVT Taylor, Alex A. PFC Waltmeyer, Harold E. S/SGT Watson, William C. PFC Weber, Dale H. PVT Williamson, John Jr. CAPT Wofford, Wilbur P. |
GLIDER PILOTS
2LT Buckner, Alfred C. | 2LT Croke, Harry R. |
★ BATTLE OF THE BULGE | ★ RHINELAND | ★ CENTRAL EUROPE |
Thunder from Heaven
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
17th Airborne Division
194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division
306th Bombardment Group
368th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomb Group, Heavy
423rd Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomb Group, Heavy
438th Troop Carrier Group
88th Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
