Affixed on the plinth of the monument.

Monument

A gray stone pedestal supporting a statue of a soldier, with a plaque affixed to it, lists the names and ranks of the crew members of a B-26 Marauder serial number 42-96168 B-55-MA model, named "Lassie Come Home"  that belonged to the 599th Bombardment Squadron, 397th Bombardment Group, of the 9th Air Force. The plane crashed in Sceaux-sur-Huisne on August 3, 1944. The plaque is written in French and was dedicated on June 21, 2014.

On 3 August 1944, the plane took off from Rivenhall to bomb the railway installation at Courtalain, near Chateaudu. The pilot, Captain Garretson was flying in the lead position of the second box (group of four aircraft) of the formation. The formation encountered bad weather and while trying to avoid clouds Marauder 42-96169 struck the tail of 42-96168 sending the aircraft into a spin from which it could not recover. While 42-96169 managed to land safely, 42-96168 tragically crashed near the area called Migeloup, killing all on board. 

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com

Source of photos: lavoirs-en-sarthe.fr

A la mémoire de l' équipage 

du bombardier B 26 

599 BS 397 BG9 AF 

tombé le 3 août 1944 

au lieu-dit "Migeloup"

Morts pour notre liberté

never forget

21 juin 2014

English Translation:

In memory of the crew 

of the bomber B 26 

599 BS 397 BG9 AF

fell on August 3, 1944 

at the place called "Migeloup"

Died for our freedom

June 21, 2014