1LT Braly Plaque (383rd Fighter Squadron)
Details:
On the right brick post supporting the front gate of the small chateau at the north side of the intersection.
Plaque
A small, black stone plaque with French text honoring a US pilot downed over the town.
From American Air Museum Britain website:
Assigned to 383FS, 364FG, 8AF USAAF. Best friend of Lt Roy C Blaha. Failed to Return (FTR) strafing mission to NE Paris in P-51D 44-13797, his element strafed a camouflaged train in a siding, on the fourth pass, out of ammo and following his element leader, who still had ammo, flew through massive explosion from train, which ripped off the A/C's wings and tail. Crashed Remy, near Compiegne. Pilot Lt Houston L Braly Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8672.
The plane landed in a garden in the front of a house, setting the house afire. As the house had running water, the villagers were able to quickly extinguish it. Next, they did their best to extricate the body of Lt Houston Braly. The fallen pilot's body was carried to a nearby building and wrapped in the silk of his parachute and covered with fresh flowers. Later, having been interred in Remy cemetery, those villagers would defy Nazi orders and continue to pile his gravesite with flowers.
A memorial and stained glass window at the Remy Church also remember 1LT Braly.
Monument Text:
1er LT Houston Lee Braly, Jr.
pilote americain
mort au combat
le 02 aout 1944
English translation:
1st LT Houston Lee Braly
American pilot
killed in combat
on 2 August 1944
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
364th Fighter Group
383rd Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group
8th Air Force
United States Air Force
Wars:
WWII
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