Black Thursday Monument of Nubécourt
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Details:
Just to the right of the entrance to the church in the cemetery.
Monument
The memorial is a pentagonal-shaped, grey granite monument mounted on a concrete base. There are four images at the top of the monument. From left to right, there is an American flag, a simple map outlining the bomber crew's plan, a picture of the crew, and a picture of a B-17 bomber. The text is in white.
This monument honors members of the U.S. Air Force who were shot down on Black Thursday, October 14, 1943, during the Second Raid on Schweinfurt in Griffeny, near Nubécourt. Lt. William H. Wilson died in the plane crash while the other 9 members of his crew were able to parachute safely to the ground. Once on the ground, the 9 crew members took refuge in families' homes throughout Meuse in order to avoid German detection. While some were captured and made German prisoners, all but 2 of the 9 escaped to Switzerland.
Monument Text:
Le jeudi noir 14 oct 1943 fut abattu
un bombardier américain au lieu-dit
Griffeny à Nubécourt.
le Lt William H. Wilson y laissa la Vie.
Par contre 9 membres de l'équipage parachutés
furent suavés.
Lt Donald P.OGILVIE Sgt Emmett A.HOOD Sgt William E.MARTIN
Lt Robert D.KILMER Lt Everett L.CHILDS Sgt Louis R.RATKIEWICZ
Sgt James W.McKEON Sgt James R.MURRAY Sgt James R.SILVIA
Hébergés clandestinement par des familles Meusiennes,
ils purent rejoindre la Suisse.
En memoire des sacrifices de ces Aviateurs Américains
pour la Libération de la FRANCE.
English translation:
Black Thursday, October 14, 1943 an American bomber
was shot at a place called
Griffeny near Nubécourt.
Lt. William H. Wilson lost his life there.
9 crew members were saved by their parachutes.
Lt Donald P.OGILVIE Sgt Emmett A.HOOD Sgt William E.MARTIN
Lt Robert D.KILMER Lt Everett L.CHILDS Sgt Louis R.RATKIEWICZ
Sgt James W.McKEON Sgt James R.MURRAY Sgt James R.SILVIA
Sheltered secretly by families of Meuse,
they were able to reach Switzerland.
In memory of the sacrifices of these American Airmen
for the Liberation of FRANCE.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
384th Bomb Group (Heavy)
394th Bomb Group
394th Bomber Group
547th Bomber Squadron, 384th Bomber Group
United States Air Force
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
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