B-25 (41-12571) RAF Crash Memorial
Details:
In Treauville's main town square.
There is also a plaque on the town's war memorial across from the church and in front of the town hall.
Monument
Monument Text:
A LA MEMOIRE
DES EQUIPAGES DES 3 AVIONS B-25 DE LA RAF
TOMBES SUR LA COMMUNE DE TREAUVILLE
LE 26-11-1943
HONNEUR ET RECONNAISSANCE
-A LA GIOTERIE-
R. R. HOWLETT | Anglais | 24 ans |
C. S. GRAVES | Anglais | 21 ans |
F. B. DIXON | Anglais | 23 ans |
G. J. SAUNDERS | Anglais |
|
-A LA CHAUVINERIE-
W. A. SOLHEIM | Americain | 24 ans |
C. G. UNDERWOOD | Australien | 29 ans |
J. PAINTING | Australien | 26 ans |
S. R. TROMAN | Canadien | 22 ans |
-AU PONT SOREL-
J. A. KOK | Neerlandais | 25 ans |
J. H. H. DE LA HAIJE | Neerlandais | 23 ans |
R. OVERWIJN | Neerlandais | Evade |
D. J. KONING | Neerlandais | fait prisonnier |
INAUGURE LE 08 MAI 2004
English translation:
In memory of the three RAF B-25 crews that crashed over Treauville on 11-26-1943
Honor and recognition
-At Gioterie-
R.R. Howlett English 21 years old
C.S. Graves English 21 years old
F.B. Dixon English 23 years old
G.J. Saunders English
-At Chauvinerie-
W.A. Solheim American 24 years old
C.G. Underwood Australian 29 years old
J. Painting Australian 26 years old
S.R. Troman Canadian 22 years old
-At Pont Sorel-
J.A. Kok Dutch 25 years old
J.H.H. de la Haije Dutch 23 years old
R. Overwijn Dutch escaped
D.J. Koning Dutch POW
Inaugurated on May 8th 2004
War Memorial Plaque:
HONNEUR ET RECONNAISSANCE
AUX AVIATEURS ALLIES
TOMBES LE 26-11-1943
English translation:
Honor and recognition to the Allied airmen who fell on 11-26-1943
Left plaque at the right side of the monument, inscribed in English:
TREAUVILLE 26th NOVEMBER 1943
On the 26th of November 1943. 49 Royal Air Force B-25 Mitchell bombers from the 2nd Tactical Air Force, divided into 2 formations took port in a raid against military construction works at Couville. The first formation of 25 planes dropped its bomb load just before 15:00 hours but one 320 Squadron Mitchell was hit and shot down by the German anti fire. A crew on 4 men was onboard
Pilot | Sergeant | J. A. Kok | Dutch |
Navigator | Sergeant | R. Overwijn | Dutch |
Radio Operator | Sergeant | H. H. De La Haije | Dutch |
Air gunner | Corporal | D. J. Koning | Dutch |
Only sergeant Overwijn and corporal Koning managed to bail out of the plane which crashed at Pont Sorel, less than one kilometre east of the memorial, bringing into death the pilot and the radio operator. Koning would be taken prisoner and Ovenwijn evaded capture. The Wright R-2600 "Cyclone" 14 cylinders in double row engine displayed here was mounted on this plane and recovered in 1993.
The second formation of 24 planes was badly shaken by anti aircraft fire. One 180 Squadron bomber was severely hit by flak and started to go down out of control. On his way down, it collided in mid air with another B-25 Mitchell from the very same Squadron.
The first Mitchell fell to pieces in the air over La Giolerie, 500 meters south of the memorial. Three of the crewmembers were thrown out of the plane and killed; the pilot was recovered burned to death in the wreckage of the plane:
Pilot | Flight Sergeant | R. R. Howlett | U.K. |
Navigator | Sergeant | C. S. Groves | U.K. |
Radio Operator | Sergeant | G. J. Sounders | U.K. |
Air Gunner | Warrant Officer | F. B. Dixon | U.K. |
The second Mitchell crashed one kilometre south-west of the memorial, only 80 meters away from Lo Chauvinerie farm. All the crew perished burned to death:
Pilot | Lieutenant | W. A. Solheim | U.S.A. |
Navigator | Flight Sergeant | C. G. Underwood | Australia |
Radio Operator | Warrant Officer | J. Painting | Australia |
Air Gunner | Flight Sergeant | S. R. Troman | Canada |
A third 180 Squadron B-25 Mitchell disappeared into the Channel off Cap de Flamanville, the bodies of the four crewmembers would never be found. They are all commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede. This memorial commemorates by name over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations in Europe, and who have no known graves.