Monument Details

Five B-17s -483rd Bomber Group

Details:

In the back of the town cemetery is a reception building called the "Leichenhalle". Next to it is a memorial wall. The right most plaque (as you are facing the wall) honors the crews of five American B-17s shot down in the area.

Plaque

On July 18, 1944, the 483rd Bomb Group (Heavy) was involved in one of the greatest air battles of the war. Flying out of Italy with 28 B-17s, they were part of a planned bombing attack consisting of 112 B-17s and were to bomb the German airfield at Memmingen. They were attacked by 150 German fighters over Kempten. The attack lasted 20 minutes, and their fighter escort arrived 8 minutes after the shooting had begun but were outnumbered four to one. The German fighters attacked the big bombers from the rear. The 483rd lost fourteen B-17s in minutes, each with a crew of ten airmen. The town of Buchenberg was the crash area for five of these bombers. The remaining bombers successfully bombed the airfield, killing 170 Germans on the ground, wounding 140, and destroying 50 parked aircraft. The 483rd was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts that day. A bronze plaque commemorating the 29 American aviators from five B-17s downed over Buchenberg on 18 July 1944. Initially buried here, they were exhumed on 17 May 1946. The plaque was dedicated on 19 July 1998.

Monument Text:

18. Juli 1944

483rd Bomb Group

IV. Sturm /JG. 3 Udet

Zum Gedenken an die im Luftkampf gefallenen amerikanischen und deutschen Flieger. Auf Buchenberger Flur waren dies:

In Memory of all American and German Airmen killed in Aerial Combat. They lost their Lives at Buchenberg:

THE 29 NAMES ARE LISTED HERE

Exhumierung am 17.Mai 1946 – Exhumed the 17th of May 1946

Möge diese Gedenktafel der Erhaltung des Friedens dienen.

May this Commemorative Plaque further the Preservation of Peace.

Buchenberg, den 19. Juli 1998 – Buchenberg the 19th of July 1998

Commemorates: