Outside the pub grounds, in the Soke Gardens.

A rectangular wooden block with an angled top which a larger metal plaque is mounted. Also, a smaller plaque is affixed on the front side of the plinth. The plaques are inscribed in English in incised lettering. This memorial honors Captain Robert Cogswell who saved the town from a potential disaster.

On 26 September 1943 the B17 Flying Fortress “Lady Luck”, carrying a full bomb load, got into difficulties over Alresford. Captain Cogswell ordered his nine crewmen to bail out remaining on board the aircraft himself in an attempt to steer the bomber away from the town. The plane crashed just east of Old Alresford Pond Captain Cogswell having jumped to safety, although injured in the bail-out, shortly before it crashed.

The crew:

Pilot: Robert Cogswell

Co-pilot: Dallas Kendall

Navigator: Ed Cobb

Bombardier: Frank Kulesa

Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gil Bendston

Radio Operator: Ed Deerfield

Ball turret gunner: John Deffinger

Waist gunner: Simeon Oxendine

Waist gunner: Elmer Peterson

Tail gunner: Paul Davis

(10 Returned to Duty)

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, www.theglobealresford.com, www.americanairmuseum.com

Source of photos: www.alresford.org, alresfordmemories.wordpress.com

Top plaque:

THIS HONOURS CAPTAIN ROBERT COGSWELL

303 BOMB GROUP US 8TH AF

WHOSE CONDUCT

SAVED ALRESFORD FROM POTENTIAL DISASTER.

ON SEPTEMBER 26TH 1943

HIS B17 FLYING FORTRESS 'LADY LUCK'

WITH FULL BOMB LOAD

CRASHED EAST OF THE POND 1/4 MILE FROM HERE.

NINE CREWMEN HAD BAILED OUT

BUT THE PILOT ENSURED IT WOULD CLEAR THE TOWN

BEFORE HE JUMPED TO SAFETY.