B-17 42-29895 'The Black Swan' Memorial
Details:
On the north side of the road.
A small granite stele inscribed in English and French text in memory of two crew members who died in the crash of the B-17 #42-29895. The depicted image on the top of the monument is the 8th Air Force insignia. The inscriptions are written in engraved and white lettering. Nearby is another memorial relating to the event.
On December 31, 1943, B-17 #42-29895 was shot down by flak and enemy fighters during a mission between Bordeaux and Cognac area in France. 2Lt Mendelsohn (pilot) and TSgt Hensley were Killed in Action while the other eight members were able to bail out but six of them were taken as prisoners.
*The crew members of The Black Swan were:
|
2Lt |
Stuart B |
Mendelsohn |
Pilot |
KIA |
|
2Lt |
Laverne Ellie |
Woods |
CoPilot |
Prisoner |
|
2Lt |
Warren L |
Ellis |
Navigator |
Prisoner |
|
2Lt |
James A |
Schneider |
Bombardier |
- |
|
T/Sgt |
Richard George |
Hensley |
Mechanic |
KIA |
|
T/Sgt |
James Nicholas "Jimmy" |
Quinn |
Radio Operator |
- |
|
S/Sgt |
Larry C |
Hull |
Assitant Radio Operator |
Prisoner |
|
S/Sgt |
Porter Dudley |
Clemens |
Ball Turret Gunner |
Prisoner |
|
S/Sgt |
Abraham Roke |
Lieberman |
Left Waist Gunner |
Prisoner |
|
S/Sgt |
Rollin E |
Gater |
Right Waist Gunner |
Prisoner |
*This crew list was taken from francecrashes39-45.net.
Source of photos: www.aerosteles.net
Monument Text:
B 17 - F -42 . 29895
324 th. SQUADRON
91 st. BOMB GROUP. H.
8 th U. S. ARMY AIR FORCE
A LA MÉMOIRE
DES AVIATEURS AMÉRICAINS
MORTS EN COMBAT AÉRIEN
LE 31 DÉCEMBRE 1943
LT. STUART B. MENDELSOHN
PILOTE - OHIO
SGT. RICHARD G. HENSLEY
MITRAILLEUR - WASHINGTON
English translation:
B 17 - F -42 . 29895
324th SQUADRON
91st BOMB GROUP. H.
8th U. S. ARMY AIR FORCE
IN MEMORY
OF AMERICAN AIRMEN
WHO DIED IN AERIAL COMBAT
DECEMBER 31, 1943
LT. STUART B. MENDELSOHN
PILOT - OHIO
SGT. RICHARD G. HENSLEY
GUNNER - WASHINGTON
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
324th Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, Heavy
8th Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
