B-24G 42-78258 and B-24H 41-29291 Monument
Details:
In the vicinity of the Tapolca Memorial Park in the center of Tapolca.
Monument
A loosely formed dark stone stele bearing the seal of the US Army. Two American bombers from the 460th Bomb Group got shot down in bad weather over Tapolca on 30 June 1944: a B-24G 42-78258 MACR #6809 and a B-24H 41-29291 MACR #6394. The memorial has Hungarian text and the names of the aviators.
Edwin W. Baylor | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt | KIA |
Howard L. Cales | Gunner | Sgt | PDD |
Nelson H. Champlin | Pilot | 2nd Lt | KIA |
Steve A. Marushok | Gunner | S/Sgt | KIA |
Morton H. Osborn | Navigator | 2nd Lt | EUS |
Arthur J. Popa | Gunner | S/Sgt | KIA |
Eugene T. Potts Jr. | Gunner | Sgt | POW |
Howard E. Sexton | Gunner | Sgt | KIA |
Dan E. Whistler | Gunner | Sgt | POW |
Richard M. Whitaker | Bombardier | 2nd Lt | KIA |
Alan P. Barrowcliff | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt | Rtd |
Leonard Bernhardt | Gunner 6 | S/Sgt | |
Marshall J. Brown | Bombardier | 2nd Lt | Rtd |
Elder A. Erfeldt | Pilot | 2nd Lt | Rtd |
Matthew L. Hendricks | Navigator | 2nd Lt | Rtd |
John L. Lenburg | Gunner 1 | T/Sgt | Rtd |
John M. Nagle Jr. | Gunner 3 | S/Sgt | Rtd |
Martin F. Troy | Gunner 5 | S/Sgt | MIA |
Rube J. Waits Jr. | Gunner 4 | S/Sgt | KIA |
Ralph F. Wheeler | Gunner 2 | T/Sgt | KIA |
Monument Text:
A IL VILÁGHÁBORÚBAN TAPOLCÁN ELESETT AMERIKAI
KATONÁK
WHEELER RALPH F TROY MARTIN F EDVIN BAYLOR N. ARTHUR HOPA J. SEXTON HOWARD E. |
WAITS RUBE SCHAMPIN MOLSON H. RICHARD WHITAKER H. NARUSHOK STEVE A. GALES HOWARD E. |
English translation:
THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS KILLED AT TAPOLCA IN
WORLD WAR II
WHEELER RALPH F TROY MARTIN F EDVIN BAYLOR N. ARTHUR HOPA J. SEXTON HOWARD E. |
WAITS RUBE SCHAMPIN MOLSON H. RICHARD WHITAKER H. NARUSHOK STEVE A. GALES HOWARD E. |
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
15th Air Force
460th Bomb Group, Heavy
760th Bomber Squadron, 460th Bomber Group, Heavy
762nd Bomber Squadron, 460th Bomber Group, Heavy
United States Air Force
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Operation Dakota