B24 42-52650 Plaque
Details:
On the left side wall if you are facing the altar.
A rectangular, horizontal oriented, brass plaque, that is affixed to a wooden frame. The plaque is inscribed in English in black and incised lettering. On the top of the plaque is the commemoration message followed by the engraved images of the 406th Bomb Squadron insignia, a B-24 Liberator aircraft, and the 8th Air Force insignia. Below these, is the list of names and some info of the aircrew, arranged in columns.
On the evening of January 3, 1945, for an undetermined reason, B-24 #42-52650 piloted by 2Lt Ray Hendrix, crashed in Aston Clinton after takeoff for a nighttime leaflet dropping mission. The plane was to make a run over Holland, participating in psychological warfare by dropping leaflets which included a holiday message from the Dutch Queen and reports of how the war had turned in favor of the Allies. The plane had a malfunction 5 minutes after takeoff. Unfortunately, there is no survivor in this crash.
Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.americanairmuseum.com
Source of photos: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, Google Maps
Monument Text:
IN MEMORY OF
THE CREW OF THE B-24 LIBERATOR.
42-52650, 406TH (NL) SQUADRON, U.S. 8TH AIR FORCE,
WHICH CRASHED IN THIS VILLAGE ON 3RD JANUARY 1945
PILOT CO PILOT NAVIGATOR BOMBARDIER RADIO OP/GNR ENGINEER/GNR GUNNER GUNNER GUNNER GUNNER |
2ND LIEUT 2ND LIEUT 2ND LIEUT 2ND LIEUT SERGEANT SERGEANT SERGEANT SERGEANT SERGEANT SERGEANT |
RAY L. HENDRIX JEROME PFULLMANN VINCENT R. MURPHY CHARLES L. MILLER JOHN T. WHEATLEY BLYTHE R. SMYTH FRANS-JOSEF R. WEIK WILLIAM K. LAWSON GEORGE W. HAWKES SAMUEL SCHAEFFER |
(continuation…)
(SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA) (NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS) (NEW YORK CITY) (GROVEPORT, OHIO) (LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY) (VIRGINIA) (TRENTON, NEW JERSEY) (OKLAHOMA CITY) (BALDWINVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS) (NEWARK, NEW JERSEY) |
"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
406th Bomber Squadron, 801st Bomb Group
801st Bomber Group
8th Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Other images :