On the right-hand side of the B-17G 44-6133 plaque.

A rectangular, white board with printed color images of the 525th Bomber Squadron and the 379th Bombardment Group insignias, the USAF Roundel (1943-47), and the photo of SSgt Tognazzini, followed by the printed inscription written in English. The info sign details the story of the crash when the B-17G 44-6133 collided with another aircraft on June 19, 1944.

Source of images: www.findagrave.com

A LONG WAY FROM HOME. On Monday 19th June 1944, a formation of about 30 American B 17 "Flying Fortress" bombers from the 525th Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group, was returning from a mission against V1 launching sites in Northern France. Most of them had taken hits, and a few of them were flying home with smoking engines, but one of them in particular had been very badly damaged by the German Flak. For the pilot of that aircraft, 2nd Lt. Armand John Ramacitti, this was his first combat mission, and he was already in trouble. Flying close to his section leader, he was having a great deal of difficulty controlling his stricken bomber, but they were now only about 15 minutes from their base, to the North at Kimbolton and he was determined they would make it.

He had already lost one of his four engines; now, as the formation neared Allhallows in North Kent, another engine was giving up. Already desperately wrestling with the bomber's flak-based controls, it was the last thing he needed. Jockeying the throttles on his remaining engines, he was trying to somehow compensate for the dropping power when without warning, his B 17 side-slipped sickeningly to Starboard, literally dropping out of his hands, and collided with the aircraft of his section leader. As the two planes seperated, Ramacitti's aircraft turned upside down, lost its port wing and went straight down into the muddy waters of the Thames Estuary. Only one of the nine crew members survived; the Bombardier 2nd Lt. Theo Chronopolis[sic]. The plane crashed about 500 yards off the seafront at Allhallows. All but one of the crew's bodies were recovered and they were later interred in the American Cemetery at Madingley, Cambidgeshire. Only that of the Fight[sic] Engineer/Top Gunner, Staff Sergeant Cecil Tognazzini, remains "missing"; more than likely still trapped in the wreckage of the bomber out there in the soft Thames mud. The section leader's plane came down across the water at Canvey Point in Essex and six of the crew survived. There is a memorial to them at Canvey, but Ramacitti and his crew had no such memorial where their plane crashed, till now. 

Ramacitti and his crew never even had time to name their aircraft, nor to have ther official crew photograph taken. The fact that they died after attacking the launching sites of the dreaded "Doodlebugs" means that they were literally protecting British Homes that afternoon. 2nd Lt. Armand J Ramacitti and the crew of B 17G serial 44-6133, are a long way from their home. We cannot remedy that, but we can acknowledge their effort and remember their sacrifice. 

The memorial and this information board were raised by Mitch Peeke; Allhallows Resident, Author/Historian.

Dedicated by the Rev, Stephen Gwilt 22 June 2019.

Kindly sponsored by: A Class Driving School, Airscape Magazine, Anchor Signmakers, Aviation Trails Website, Bourne Leisure, Dickens Gates, Haven Holidays, Homeleigh Garden Centre and The Strood Cobbler. Thanks also to the generosity of the donations from members of the public.