Monument Details

B-26 Marauder 'Son of Satan' Crash Marker

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Details:

The plaque is located 2.5km from the center of Kempfeld, Germany. From the center of town, head south on Schulstrasse and then east on Wildenburgerstrasse. After continuing on Wildenburgerstrasse for 1.4km, proceed in the northeast direction for 400m until the next road. Proceed east for 500km. The memorial is 400m north on the foot trail from this point. The memorial is just off the foot path in a lightly wooded area; it is visible from the path.

Marker

The B-26 Marauder plaque is located on a red and grey stone. The oval shaped plaque bronze is bronze and commemorates the five airmen who were killed and the one airmen taken prisoner when their B-26, names the "Son of Satan" was shot down by German flak fire on November 18, 1944. The "Son of Satan" was part of a 36 plane unit, comprised of two boxes form the 555th Squadron. They flew from Oise, France for their target: a supply depot in St. Wendel, Germany. Unfortunately, snow and fog made the targets difficult to spot and the accuracy of the group's efforts ranged from poor to good.

Monument Text:

"B 26 SON OF SATAN

CRASHED 18 NOV 1944

R.J. OWEN KIA W.F. MELSON KIA

R.L. HOLM KIA R.R. BEEGLE KIA

T.U. PRICE KIA C.J. MANN POW"

Commemorates:

People:

Robert Reighard Beegle

Roger Leon Holm

Chester J Mann

Weston Fisher Melson