On the top of the low walls of the esplanade, in front of the Tourist Information center.

A rectangular panel containing two photos and information about the crash and burial of 2Lt Weese written in French and English. According to the after-action report filed by his commanding officer, 1st Lt. Valmore Beaudrault, Weese reported that his aircraft had been struck by flak during a patrol mission over the Cherbourg assault area on June 10, 1944. A short time later Weese reported that he was at 7,000ft and that his engine was out. He stated that he thought he could put his aircraft down behind friendly lines in the shallow water a little offshore Juno Beach. Beaudrault reported that nothing more was heard from Wesse.

2nd Lt. John Weese lost his life as a result of the subsequent crash landing in the water, his body being recovered the same day. His aircraft was pulled ashore above the high tide mark the following day by personnel from No2 RAF Beach Squadron. It was later reported that his injuries from the ditching were likely not fatal and it can be surmised that tragically, he perhaps drowned before he could exit his aircraft.

Source of information: making-history.ca

Source of photo: www.aerosteles.net, making-history.ca

Le Second lieutenant John Alfred «Jack» WEESE avait 24 ans lorsque

son avion s'est abimé en mer au large de Saint-Aubin-sur-mer.

Le pilote du 386éme Fighter Squadron de l'US Air Force, avait quitté la base

de Beaulieu en Angleterre pour une mission au dessus de Cherbourg.

Un tir de DCA atteint son P47, il avertit à la radio qu'il tentait un

atterrissage d'urgence. Ce fut sa dernière communication. Son corps fut

retrouvé le jour-méme.

Poussé par la marée, l'avion vint s'échouer le lendemain entre le canon et

l'Office de Tourisme de Saint-Aubin.

Le corps de l'aviateur américain, enterré dans un cimetière provisoire,

fut rapatrié quatre ans plus tard auprès de sa famille à Ann Arbor dans

le Michigan.

Second Lieutenant John Alfred "Jack" WEESE was

24 years old when his plane crashed at sea off the

coast of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer.

The pilot from the US Air Force 386th Fighter

Squadron had left Beaulieu Airfields in England for

a mission above Cherbourg.

After his P47 was hit by flak, he announced he was

attempting to belly land. That would be his last

communication. His body was recovered the same day.

The tide pushed the plane which became stranded

the next day between the gun and the Saint-Aubin

Tourism Office.

The American aviator was first buried locally.

Four years later, his body was returned to his family

in Ann, Arbor Michigan.