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B-17 42-3806 'Georgia Rebel II' Memorial

<< Back to Avord Communal Cemetery

Details:

At the north corner of the cemetery, near the graves of the Commonwealth airmen.


Marker

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:

Eugene Arning

William Bluford, Jr. Blackmon

Arthur Lawrence Guertin

Harold Frederick Henslin

Osce V. Jones

Jo Robert Karr

George B., Jr. McLaughlin

Nathan J. W. Padgett

Edward Herbert “Pops” Sell

Clarence Taylor Williams

Units:

381st Bomber Group (Heavy)

535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy

8th Air Force

US Army Air Corps

Wars:

WWII

Other images :