Behind the monument.

A large metal panel with white background supported by two metal poles containing the history of the B17 crash. The title on the panel is written in French while the contents are written in three languages; French, English, and Belgian.

LES ANCIENS COMBATTANTS

A

L'ÉQUIPAGE DU B.17G-15.DL

N° 42-37890

English translation:

THE VETERANS

OF

THE CREW OF THE B.17G-15.DL

N° 42-37890

The English inscription reads:

8^th US Air Force Mission 309

M A C R 4169

   On April 20, 1944 the bomber B-17G 42-37890 took off from Framlingham aerodrome (AAF Station 153) with a crew of ten men. They were part of the 568th Bomber Squadron, 8th Air Force, 390th Bombardment Group. Their plane had the names « Big Friend » and « Rovin' Ramona II  » painted on its fuselage ; the identification were BI-R.

   This plane and crew were part of a 174 bombers formation which, after flying over London, was heading to the French coast. They were apparently targeting the flak positions, the Cherbourg area, especially the launching pads V1 and V2.

   It was 6:47 pm and their flying altitude was 18, 500 at coordinates 49 deg. 36 min, N. -01 deg. 33 min, W. when they got hit by flak just after dropping their bombs near Cherbourg.

   It peeled off to the right out off the formation and went down in a spin with at least one engine and a wing afire. It then began to dive. Other crews in the formation reported that it exploded at that moment.

   The people of Brix who saw the bomber falling asserted that the remains mostly scattered around the place known as « Génétel » but also around « La Mare de Brix » and « l'Ectot ».

Ten men were on board. Only one of them survived. Sergeant Jesse W. Roberts.

Let's salute these brave airmen's heroism and all those who, like them, fought throughout the Northern Cotentin to defend the land of France and Freedom.

Let their memory not sink into oblivion.