Upottery Airfield US Armed Forces Plaque
Details:
A rectangular metal plaque inscribed with the regiments and the names of the men who left Upottery (Smeatharpe) airfield on the 5th and 7th of June 1944 and died in transit from the base to France. On the corners of the tables are units and group insignias printed in colors.
Source of image: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk
Monument Text:
Upottery Airfield
USAAF Station 462
Just after midnight on the 5th of June 1944 : 81 C-47 unarmed transport aircraft departed from this airfield
carrying 1357 Paratroops who were to be dropped behind enemy lines near the coast of France on D-Day
At dawn on the morning of 7th June 1944: 50 C-47 aircraft towing 30 Horsa gliders and 20 Waco gliders
departed for France carrying 968 Glider Infantry troops in the second airborne wave of the Invasion
Here in honoured memory are those killed in transit on those two missions
"LEST WE FORGET"
439th Troop Carrier Group USAAF
91st Squadron C-47 42-93095
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1st Lt | Harold A. Capelutto |
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2nd Lt | John J. Fanelli |
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2nd Lt | Bernard Friedman |
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Sgt | Norman E. Thompson |
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Sgt | Albert R. Tillotson Jr |
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C-47 42-100819
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2nd Lt | Marston F. Sargent |
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F/O | Steve C. Baran |
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S/Sgt | Melvin B. Shullanberger |
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T/Sgt | Walter F. Gendron |
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93rd Squadron C-47 42-100876
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2nd Lt Marvin F. Muir | ||
2nd Lt Kenneth C. Bell | S/Sgt Clifford L. Burgess |
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2nd Lt John A. Marisay | Sgt Philip Snyder |
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2nd Lt Marvin F. Muir was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for holding his burning aircraft under control until the paratroopers aboard could exit, sacrificing himself and his crew | ||
June 7th 1944
(-Air Force G Wing -Basic badge-)
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93rd Squadron | |
F/O Robert W. Smith | F/O Robert H. Weiss
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94th Squadron | |
F/O Vincent J. Rembles | |
The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Abn Div US Army
1st Lt Thomas Meehan III | Sgt Carl N. Riggs | Pvt George L. Elliott |
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1st Sgt William S. Evans | T/5 Herman F. Collins | Pvt William T. McGonigal Jr |
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S/ Sgt Murray B. Roberts | T/5 Ralph H. Wimer | Pvt John N. Miller |
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Sgt Elmer L. Murray Jr | Pfc Sergio G. Moya | Pvt Elmer L Telstad | Pvt Jerry A. Wentzel |
Sgt Richard E. Owen | Pfc Gerald R. Snider | Pvt Ernest I. Oats | Pvt Thomas W. Warren |
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1st Lt Kenneth A. Beatty | T/5 John D. Hall | Pfc Frederick J. Feneran | Pvt Salvatore M. Leferrera |
Sgt Roy H. Speake | Pfc Colin Campbell | Pfc Robert J. Hensel | Pvt Luther F. Morrison |
Cpl Eugene E. Middleton | Pfc Robert M. Naimoli | Pvt Augustine Gonzales | Pvt Hugh F. Williams |
T/5 John L Davis | Pfc Jay E. Cheel | Pvt James D. King | Pvt Benjamin F. Winn |
The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment 82nd Abn Div US Army
2nd Lt Guy W. Gowen | Pfc Fred Bates | Pfc Martin B. Murphy |
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2nd Lt Andrew Stepich | Pfc Charles C. Bratcher | Pfc Thomas H. Roberts |
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S/ Sgt Joe Di Ciuccio | Pfc Irvin N. Frankart | Pvt Edger J. Ashenfelter | Pvt Joseph B. Helms |
Sgt Alfred H. King | Pfc Francis J. Higdon | Pvt John N. Bruno | Pvt Glen E. Matthews |
Cpl Edmund J. Greenwood | Pfc Glenn Lego | Pvt John D. Garbin | Pvt Thomas C. Mirelez |
Funded by voluntary contributions during events on the 60th Anniversary of D-Day June 6th - 12th 2004
Arranged by the South West Airfields Trust aided by the local community and their organisations
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
101st Airborne Division
325th Glider Infantry Regiment
439th Troop Carrier Group
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
82nd Airborne Division
91st Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group
93rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group
94th Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group
9th Air Force
United States Army
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Normandy Invasion