Monument Details

B-17 (42-107153) 'Denny Boy' Memorial

Details:

On the exterior wall of the chapel.

Plaque
A black plaque with gold lettering commemorating the US aviators that crashed in the area during WWII.

The plaque remembers the crew of B-17 "Denny Boy" (42-107153) of the 369th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group. After completing its mission over Germany, the plane was shot down and crash landed. Local resistance forces assisted the crew escape to Switzerland were they were interned and some later released as a part of an POW exchange.

One crew member, the bombardier, is listed as Lt. Robert Stalwalker; his last name is correctly spelled Stalnaker. Stalnaker survived the war and continued service with the US Air Force. During the Korea Conflict, then Captain Stalnaker was a crew member of a Superfortress RB-50 (47145) jet bomber with the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, U.S. Air Force. On July 29, 1953, his plane was shot down by two Russian MiG-15's over the Sea of Japan off the coast of Russia and has been listed as Missing in Action (MIA).

Monument Text:

Le 16 Juillet 1944, sur ce plateau de Champellant, le bombardier americain B-17-G Denny Boy, se posait d'urgence avec ses 9 hommes d'equipage, suite a une mission perilleuse au dessus de l'Allemagne. Indemnes, ils furent diriges vers la Suisse voisine par les resistants du Chablais, via le Pas de Morgins, le 17 Juillet 1944.
A jamais, la France reconnaissante.

Lt Fred Jones (pilot)
Lt Clifford Hammersley (co-pilot)
Lt Charles Weaver (navigator)
Lt Robert Stalwalker (bombardier)**
Sgt John Griffiths (mechanic)
Sgt Robert Price (radio operator)
Sgt Woodie Rose (machine gunner)
Sgt Milton Katz (machine gunner)
Sgt Arthur Flores (machine gunner)

English translation:

On July 16th 1944, the US B-17-G bomber "Denny Boy" crash-landed here on the plateau with its 9 crew members, following a dangerous mission over Germany. Safe and sound, they were led into nearby Switzerland via the Pas de Morgins on July 17th 1944 by the Resistance cell of Chablais.
France will forever be grateful.

Lt Fred Jones (pilot)
Lt Clifford Hammersley (co-pilot)
Lt Charles Weaver (navigator)
Lt Robert Stalwalker (bombardier)**
Sgt John Griffiths (mechanic)
Sgt Robert Price (radio operator)
Sgt Woodie Rose (machine gunner)
Sgt Milton Katz (machine gunner)
Sgt Arthur Flores (machine gunner)

Note: ** Actual last name spelling: Stalnaker

Commemorates:

People:

Arthur A. Flores

John H. Griffiths

Clifford Kenneth Hammersley

Fred G. Jones

Milton Katz

Robert A. “Bob” Price

Woodie Martell Rose

Robert Elbon Stalmaker

Charles H. Weaver Jr.