A rough-hewn stone with an attached metal plaque to its front. The plaque is inscribed in English inscribed with a dedication message followed by the list of names of the crew. The memorial was originally located at a site nearer to where the plane crashed on Elmside Farm but has been moved for better access, where it was dedicated in 2002.

On September 27, 1944, the B-17 #43-37776 ‘Heavenly Body’ of the 490th Bomb Group, 8th American Army Air Force, crashed at Nailstone, on a night navigation training flight from Eye in Suffolk. The bomber was on a training flight from Eye to Liverpool when it ran into trouble near Desford aerodrome. It was fully loaded with bombs and ammunition. Trying to turn to reach Desford’s runway it flew low over Barlestone and over the edge of Nailstone before hitting a tree on farmland and exploding, killing all 12 airmen. The aircraft was destroyed in the explosion and subsequent fire. The cause of the problem is not known.

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.leicestermercury.co.uk

Source of photos: www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES

490TH BOMB GROUP FLIGHT CREW ON THE

B17 FLYING FORTRESS APTLY NAMED HEAVENLY BODY.

ON 27TH SEPTEMBER 1944 ALL CREWMEMBERS LOST THEIR LIVES IN

THIS TRAGIC ACCIDENT

THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES, THEY SHALL RUN,

AND NOT BE WEARY, AND THEY SHALL WALK, AND NOT FAINT