B-17 42-3806 'Georgia Rebel II' Memorial
Details:
At the north corner of the cemetery, near the graves of the Commonwealth airmen.
A rectangular white slab with a curved top inscribed in French in black lettering commemorating the crew B-17 42-3806 'Georgia Rebel II.' Depicted images on the top side of the slab are the 8th Air Force insignia and a B-17 plane in relief. On April 28, 1944, #42-3806 was shot down by flak on the mission to bomb the airfield at Avord, France. The plane was hit by flak soon after completing its bombing run on the French airbase, which had been taken over by the Germans. Three crew members were able to bail out before the explosion in flight, but they were taken as prisoners. The rest were killed in action. The plane crashed 2 km south of the airfield.
Boeing B-17G-25-DL Fortress - Serial 42-38061 - Code: MS-P
381st Bomb Group / 535th Bomb Squadron
Pilot: 1st Lt. Harold F. Henslin - KIA
Co-pilot: Maj. Osce V. Jones - POW
Navigator: 1st Lt. Arthur L. Guertin - KIA
Bombardier: 1st Lt. Eugene Arning - KIA
Mechanic: T/Sgt Jo R. Karr - KIA
Radio Operator: T/Sgt JW Padgett - POW
Ball Turret Gunner: S/Sgt George B. McLaughlin - KIA
Right Waist Gunner: S/Sgt Clarence T. Williams - KIA
Left Waist Gunner: G. S/Sgt William B. Blackmon - POW
Tail Gunner: S/Sgt Edward H. Sell - KIA
Monument Text:
8th US AIR FORCE
381st BG 1 535th BS
EN SOUVENIR DES VICTIMES DU B17-G « GEORGIA REBEL II »
ABATTU LE 28 AVRIL 1944
1st LT. HAROLD F. HENSLIN
1st LT. ARTHUR L. GUERTIN
1st LT. EUGENE ARNING
T/SGT. JO R. KARR
S/SGT. GEORGE B. Mc LAUGHLIN JR.
S/SGT. CLARENCE T. WILLIAMS
S/SGT. EDWARD H. SELL
ILS SONT MORTS POUR NOTRE LIBERTÉ
VILLE D' AVORD
English translation:
8th US AIR FORCE
381st BG 1 535th BS
IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE B17-G "GEORGIA REBEL II”
SHOT DOWN ON APRIL 28, 1944
1st LT. HAROLD F. HENSLIN
1st LT. ARTHUR L. GUERTIN
1st LT. EUGENE ARNING
T/SGT. JO R. KARR
S/SGT. GEORGE B. Mc LAUGHLIN JR.
S/SGT. CLARENCE T. WILLIAMS
S/SGT. EDWARD H. SELL
THEY DIED FOR OUR FREEDOM
CITY OF AVORD
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
381st Bomber Group (Heavy)
535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy
8th Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
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