The Staffin town war memorial is carved out of grey granite, with the plinth made from hewn stones. It remembered the town fallen from three wars: First World War (1914-1918); Second World War (1939-1945); Boer War, First (1880-1881). In 2015, on the 70^th Anniversary of the crash, the town added a plaque dedicated to the B-17 (44-83325) that crashed on Skye’s Trotternish Ridge at a peak named Beinn Edra (611m).

On March 3, 1945 B-17G (44-83325) assigned to 1379 Base Unit of the 15 Air Force departed Meeks Field, Iceland (now Iceland's Keflavik Airport) enroute to RAF Base  Valley on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales.  In bad weather, the plane crashed on the Trotternish Ridge on the Scottish isle of Skye on a peak named Beinn Edra. The plane was destined of the base Gioa del Colle in Italy for operations with the 15^th Air Force. The crew of 9 all perished in the crash (Missing Aircraft {MACR} 15492.  The crew consisted of:

Pilot: 2/Lt Paul M. Overfield. Jr.

Co-Pilot: 2/Lt Leroy E. Cagle.

Navigator: 2/Lt Charles K. Jeanblanc.

Engineer: Cpl Harold D. Blue.

Radio Op: Cpl Arthur W. Koop Jr.

Gunner: Cpl John H. Vaughan.

Gunner: Cpl Harold A. Fahselt

Gunner: Cpl George S. Aldrich.

Gunner: Cpl Carter D. Wilkinson

A report from local residents about the crash:

For the people of Skye the engine sound would have been nothing out of the ordinary as the route via Greenland, Iceland and then down the UK's east coast had become a busy ferry and supply run during the war. To more acute ears, however, the aircraft's low altitude might have raised concern. Having followed the coast a little way the craft turned inland and shortly after there was the sound of an impact and fire was seen to roll down the precipitous eastern side of Ben Edra, 2,000 ft. In a difficult operation mounted from the gentler Western flank of the ridge the bodies of the crew were recovered. The aircraft was totally destroyed, although traces remain to this day. (Thanks to https://www.isbuc.co.uk/People/B17Crew.php  for this entry)

See this website Beinn Edra B-17 (44-83325) Crash Site Marker for information about the actual crash site. 

On 3rd March 1945,

The American Crew

of a B-17G Flying Fortress

perished at Beinn Edra

after a crash in this fog.

Gan cuimhneachadh

English translation:

Gan cuimhneachadh  -  Remember always