B-17 (42-3195) Crash Memorial
Details:
Behind the senior center. Monument
A silver inscribed plaque attached to a large field stone.
The monument remembers B-17 (42-3195)of the 366th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group, that crashed nearby after being shot down on October 14, 1943 during the "Black Thursday" bombing raid. This crew included three KIA, one KIA/MIA and six POW's (all of which survived the war and returned). The one Missing in Action, 2Lt Carl Booth, Navigator, his name is on the Wall of the Missing at Margraten Cemetery in the Netherlands.
About "Black Thursday" from the National Air Force Museum website:
The Eighth Air Force attack against the ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt, Germany, on October 14, 1943, became known as "Black Thursday.”
After friendly fighters turned back at the German border, the bomber formations fought a running battle alone against the Luftwaffe. The bomber crews faced heavy flak over the target and then had to fight their way back across central Europe.
Of the 291 bombers that departed on the mission, 60 were shot down, resulting in some 600 Airmen lost over enemy territory. Of the bombers that returned, 17 crashed in England or were scrapped, and 121 needed repairs—and many of these aircraft brought back wounded and dead crewmen. Because of this raid and the shocking losses in the previous two months, USAAF leaders suspended strikes against targets beyond the range of fighter escort.
The memorial was dedicated in 2015.
Monument Text:
The inscription on the plaque is written in English and German. The English reads:
IN MEMORY OF THE CREW OF B-17F 42-3195 305TH BG
WHICH CRASHED HERE ON OTOBER 14, 1943
AND ALL THE VISTIMS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
IMAGE OF THE B-17F WITH THE TRIANGE "G"
F/0 VERL D. FISCHER 2LT CLINTON A. BUSH
2LT CARL H. BOOTH, JR. + TSGT DONALD L. HISSOM +
TSGT CLINTON L. BITTON TSGT HARVEY BENNET
SSGT HAROLD INSDORF + SSGT THOMAS E. THERRIEN +
SSGT LOREN M. FINK SSGT GEORGE G. LEFEBRE
FINDLING GESTIFTET VON DER FIRMA FRANZ DAVIDS
PLAQUE DONATED BY GIELENKIRCHEN U.S. TOP III ASSOCIATION
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
305th Bomber Group
366th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, Heavy
8th Air Force
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
