Monument Details

'Damn Yankee' B-17 (41-24557) Crash Site Memorial

Details:

The monument is located just off of Zomerweg between a light pole and a tree, immediately south of the small drainage ditch that parallels this road. Plaque This gray concrete monument rests on a gray stone base with a small flower bed. It is a simple concrete stand that holds a plaque that features the Army Air Corps Insignia and describes (in Dutch) the crash of "Damn Yankee," a B-17 Bomber (41-24557) of the 545th Bomber Squadron, 384th Bombardment Group that was shot down over Jabbeke on December 1, 1943, during its return to England after a bombing run over Solingen, Germany.

The Pilot, 1LT Bruce Sundlun survived the crash, worked with the French Resistance (Code Name Salamander), and later escaped back to US Forces. Sundlun would later serve two terms as Governor of Rhode Island.

Monument Text:

"Hier stortte op 1 december 1943 een Amerikaanse

bommenwerper Boeing B-17 F "Flying Fortress" neer

waarbij vijf bemanningsleden om het leven kwamen.

Het waren:

- neusschutter Georges Hayes

- buikschutter Harry Cologne

- linkerzijschutter Mike Cappelletti

- rechterzijschutter Chester Snyder

- staartschutter Frank Lekas

Vijf jonge mannen die sneuvelden voor onze vrijheid"

English Translation: