On the north side of the road. The plaque is set onto a red brick wall on the roadside.

An upright, rectangular, white plaque, commemorating various people and events that happened during World War II (1939-1945).  The plaque is inscribed in English in incised lettering. One of the mentioned is the crash of ‘two American bombers’ which were the B-24 #42-94811 “Tommy Thumper II” and the B-24 #44-40281 “A Dog's Life.” Both aircraft crashed near the area during a training mission and all on board were killed.

(Note: According to the inscription, 20 airmen died in this event. But according to our research, there were only 18. Both aircraft lost all men aboard and both aircraft only carried 9 men each.)

B-24 #42-94811 “Tommy Thumper II”

On the 22nd January 1945, Captain John T. McArthur Jr. took charge of Tommy Thumper II for a training mission. The aircraft took off from RAF Rackheath in the early afternoon. Not long after takeoff, at about 13:45, Captain McArthur radioed the tower at Rackheath stating that he had engine problems. The tower instructed McArthur to return to the airfield.

The aircraft was sighted near to Horsham St. Faith airfield (now Norwich airport). Number 1 propeller appeared to be feathered and there were bursts of smoke coming from the number 2 engine. Things must have become serious as McArthur radioed the tower at the nearer Horsham St Faith airfield. He was instructed to circle until another aircraft was landed. Then, at about 13:56, flying at a height of about 400 feet, the aircraft appeared to stall, did a complete wing over, and spun into the ground. It crashed on the grounds of Catton Hall, near Church Street in Old Catton. All nine crew members died.

The crew members were:

John T. McArthur - Pilot

James R. Prendergast - CoPilot

Otto W. Stokes - Navigator

William E. Walker - Engineer

John F. O'Malley - Radio Operator

Clarence J. Rachford – Armorer and Gunner

Floyd W. Erickson - Assistant Engineer and Gunner

Leonard B. Rostkowski - Assistant Radio Operator and Gunner

Frank C. Wassow - Assistant Armorer and Gunner

B-24 #44-40281 “A Dog's Life”

During a training flight out of RAF Horsham St. Faith, B-24J Liberator #44-40281 "A Dog's Life," piloted by Lt. Shannon, developed engine troubles, and while attempting an emergency return to the airfield, it crashed in Old Catton. The crash killed all nine members on board. Prior to this incident, the crew had flown a total of 10 missions into Germany.

The crew members that day:

2nd Lt. Lawrence R. Shannon - Pilot

2nd Lt. Allen K. Jewett - Co-Pilot

F/O Leslie J. Gruner - Navigator

Sgt. Robert L. Ward - Engineer

Sgt. William L. Weber - Radio Operator

Sgt. Frederick M. Caudell - Gunner

Sgt. Charles E. Given, Jr. - Gunner

Sgt. Gene P. Hamilton - Gunner

Sgt. Grant D. Ordiway - Gunner

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.oldcatton.com 

Source of photo: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

DURING THE WORLD WAR

1939 - 1945

FROM THIS PARISH

THERE SERVED

H. M. FORCES      ARMY 45

R. A. F. 19       R. NAVY 4

OF WHOM 10 GAVE THEIR LIVES

WOMEN'S SERVICES     12

HOME GUARD 34 CIVIL DEFENCE WORKERS 18

W. V. S. & CANTEEN WORKERS 33

THE ENEMY DROPPED ON US 16

H.E. & 14 H.E.I. BOMBS AND OVER A

1000 INCENDIARIES.

ON JAN. 22ND & FEB. 13TH 1945 TWO

AMERICAN BOMBERS CRASHED IN

CHURCH STREET CLOSE TO THIS

TABLET WITH THE LOSS OF TWENTY

VALUABLE LIVES.

WE SAVED £6762 & SUBSCRIBED TO

WAR CHARITIES £1486.

Into all parts of the world went forth

our children