Marker

A vertical-oriented metal plaque, laid on the ground at an angle, marks the spot of the crash of the B-24 #41-24282 “Ruth-less” on February 2, 1944. On the top of the plaque is the insignia of the 8^th Air Force followed by a depiction of a B-24 plane. Below the image, is the commemoration message and the list of names of the crew. The inscription is written in English in black and incised lettering.

Along with 94 other B-24 Liberators of the 2nd Air Division, “Ruth-less”, B-24 tail #41-24282, rumbled down the runway at Shipdham, in East Anglia, England. The bomber was named in honor of the pilot’s girlfriend, Ruth: since he was away from her, he called himself, and his bomber, “Ruth-less.”

Their target was a mysterious construction site at Pas-de-Calais, on the coast of France. Although the purpose of the site was yet unknown, it would turn out to be one of the launching ramps for the German V-1 rocket.

First LT James O. Bolin, of Joplin, MO, was the pilot of the Ruth-less. Shortly after dropping their bombs during the brief flight, the bomber received flak damage to the Number 3 and Number 4 engines (both engines on the right-wing of the plane).

It was certain that the damaged bomber could not make it back to its base. However, as is so often the case, the weather in England that day was poor. While attempting to find a landing area, “Ruth-Less” crashed into a hill, killing all aboard. There above the town of Eastbourne, Sussex, the flight of Ruth-Less ended.

Three members of the crew are buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England; the rest were returned to the United States after the war.

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.ww2research.com

Source of photo: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

In memory of the crew of a B-24D Liberator Bomber

No 41-24282 BAR Y "RUTH-LESS"

of

506 Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group, U.S.A.A.F.

who all lost their lives when,

badly damaged by enemy action and in very low cloud,

the aircraft crashed here on February 2^nd 1944

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