On the left side, next to the town war memorial.

Monument

A rectangular slab bearing a square bronze plaque in memory of 2Lt Coleman. The plaque is printed with a commemoration message that is written in French. Above the message is an etching of 2Lt Coleman while below the message is an etching of a P-51 Mustang. 2Lt Coleman’s aircraft crashed in Mantilly on June 19, 1944, after his airplane collided with 2Lt Willis Reeves due to poor weather conditions. Returning from a bomber mission escort from the Bordeaux-Mérignac airfields, a chain of circumstances associated with the lack of visibility due to thick fog, seven P-51, and P-38 fighters were lost (mid-air collisions and space disorientation).

Source of photos: BONNET / www.aerosteles.net

A la mémoire du sacrifice

du Lt. Ralph L. COLEMAN

Pilote du 355th FG - 358th FS

de la 8th USAAF

Mort pour notre liberté le 19 Juin 1944,

à l'age de 28 ans,

aux commandes de son P-51 Mustang

au lieu dit le Douet Gasnier

La Commune Reconnaissante

English translation:

In memory of the sacrifice

of Lt. Ralph L. COLEMAN

Pilot of the 355th FG - 358th FS

of the 8th USAAF

Died for our freedom on June 19, 1944,

at the age of 28,

at the controls of his P-51 Mustang

at the place called Douet Gasnier

The Commune is Grateful