In the garden area of the parking space, at the east side off the road.

A smooth flame-shaped stele inscribed in French text with yellow lettering. It commemorates the crew of the B-24 #42-52624 “Box Car” of the 839th Bomber Squadron, 487th Bomber Group, Heavy, that was shot down here on June 7, 1944.

On June 7, 1944, Lt Schwab's crew flew B-24H 42-52624 'BoxCar' on the 487th Bomb Group mission to bomb a tactical target at Angers, France, in support of the Normandy Invasion. Clouds obscured the target and the Lead Squadron bombed an alternate target, the Loire River bridge at Montjean, France, about 20 miles west of Angers. The Schwab crew flew in the High Squadron and bombed a railroad marshalling yard at Chateaubriant, France, about 50 miles northwest of Angers. Sgt Coe and six of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by flak near Rennes, France, on the return from the mission. The aircraft broke up and crashed at La Rabine, just west of Bruz, France. Three men survived and became prisoners of war while the rest of the crew were killed in the crash of their plane.

Source of images: www.aerosteles.net

Other source of information: www.findagrave.com 

En hommage

aus dix aviateurs americains du B 24,

(487 B.G., 839 B S) abattu ici le 7 juin 1944

Pilot Floyd SCHWAB, 2 L (prisonnier)

Co-pilote Norman Van KIRK, 2 L (tué)

Navigateur Louis SWIRDOW, 2 L (tué)

Bombardier Cecil J. SMITH, 2 L (tué)

Radio August OLSEN M. Jr., (tué)

Mitrailleur Billy D. GROSS, T/Sgt (prisonnier)

Mitrailleur Robert K. MARXMILLER, S/Sgt (tué)

Mitrailleur Melvin SIEGEL, S/Sgt (prisonnier)

Mitrailleur SEYMOUR COE, S/Sgt (tué)

Mitrailleur Clarence E. WALKER S/Sgt (tué)

English translation:

In tribute

to the ten American aviators from the B 24,

(487 B.G., 839 B S) shot down here on June 7, 1944

Pilot Floyd SCHWAB, 2 L (prisoner)

Co-pilot Norman Van KIRK, 2 L (killed)

Navigator Louis SWIRDOW, 2 L (killed)

Bombardier Cecil J. SMITH, 2 L (killed)

Radio Operator August OLSEN M. Jr., (killed)

Machine Gunner Billy D. GROSS, T / Sgt (prisoner)

Machine Gunner Robert K. MARXMILLER, S / Sgt (killed)

Machine Gunner Melvin SIEGEL, S / Sgt (prisoner)

Machine Gunner SEYMOUR COE, S / Sgt (killed)

Machine Gunner Clarence E. WALKER S / Sgt (killed)