B17G 43-38973 Plaque
Details:
On the right-hand side, at the foot of the memorial cross.
A rectangular black plaque inscribed in English in incised lettering dedicated to the nine men of the 305th Bomb Group whose airplane crashed in the nearby village of Norton during World War II. On the top center is a B-17 depiction followed by the dedication message and the names of the crew. The crew was returning from a bombing mission to Kassel in foggy conditions with limited visibility. Their B-17 Flying Fortress was damaged from flak and they were unsure of their position. In attempting to use beacons to land, they collided with the stay of a radar GEE mast on Borough Hill, crashing in Norton. All on board were killed.
Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk
Monument Text:
DEDICATED TO THE NINE AMERICAN MEN
OF THE 305 BOMB GROUP
WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES ON DECEMBER 15TH 1944
WHEN THEIR B17 FLYING FORTRESS HIT THE
AIR MINISTRY GEE MAST ON BOROUGH HILL
RETURNING FROM A BOMBING MISSION OVER
KASSEL GERMANY
THEY DIED THAT THE IDEALS OF DEMOCRACY MIGHT LIVE
|
1st Lt. FINIS E. HARRIS F/O JOHN A. GRIFFIN 2nd Lt. ROBERT L. MASON 2dn [sic] LAVERNE D. RIDGE T/Sgt. CLIFFORD B. MELTON T/Sgt. HERSHEL L. McCOY S/Sgt. ROBERT L. BURRY S/Sgt. CHARLES W. NORDLAND S/Sgt. WILLIE L. BARNES |
B17 G 43-38973 422nd BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON |
LEST WE FORGET
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
305th Bomber Group
422nd Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group, Heavy
8th Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
