B-17 (42-102485) 'Bare Essentials' Crash Memorial- 388th Bomber Group
Details:
On the roadside across the street from the church.
A metal inscribed monument partially shaped in the form of a B-17 tail and portion of a wing just above the ground, mounted on concrete base.
The memorial remembers the crew of B-17 (42-102485) 'Bare Essentials' of the 562nd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group which was shot down on a mission to Zeitz, Germany Oil Refinery on 28 May 1944. The plane made an emergency landing near this site.
Three of the crew were killed; seven taken POW. The 388th Bomber Group memorial in Knettishall, UK remembers all the airmen killed in action.
Sources:
American Air Museum in Britain website
Traces of War Website
Monument Text:
The inscription is written in Dutch. The English translation is:
May 28, 1944
Between Groenekan and Fort Blauwkapel
an American B-17 made an emergency landing.
Three crew members were killed,
seven are taken prisoner of war.
Groenekan commemorates their sacrifice.
Their sacrifice for our freedom.
May 28, 2014
On the left are the names of the crew members:
Arthur M. Codding (21) pilot
Roger B. Withers (28) co-pilot
Donald L. Chiles, Navigator †
Clyde H. Waite (23) Radio operator
James W. Mulder (21) Tail gunner
Delmar D. McBeth (21) Bombardier †
Kenneth M. Joye (19) ball turret gunner
Robert C. Berg (30) flight engineer
Lawrence G. Brown (28) left side gunner
Thomas Roskowick (19) right side gunner †
† Killed in action.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
388th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
562nd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomb Group
8th Air Force
Wars:
WWII
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