B-24 (42-78322) Crash Memorial (Tyrol Air Battle)
Details:
At the bottom left corner of the cemetery. Monument
The propeller of a B-24 mounted to a base with a metal inscribed plaque.
The memorial remembers the crew of B-24 (42 78322), 782nd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomber Group, 15th Air Force that was shot down here on August 3, 1944. The entire crew was KIA. This B-24 was one of eight shot down that day over the skies of Tyrol, Austria. Thirty crewmen were KIA and the rest taken POW of the eight crews.
On August 3, 1944 planes of the 15th US Air Force were returning from a bombing mission to Friedrichshafen when engaged in heavy combat over the Tyrol with eight B-24 bombers being shot down in the area.
A memorial located in Erhwald, Austria remembers all of the KIA that day.
Monument Text:
The text on the plaque is inscribed in German and in English. The English reads:
IN MEMORIAM
Crew of the Lermoos crash Serial Nr. 42-78322:
Capt. Jack M. FAIVER -KIA
2nd Lt. James W. THORNTON -KIA
2nd Lt. Richard E. THOMAS -KIA
2nd Lt. Leonard S. COX -KIA
T/Sgt. Ralph P. SEHNERT -KIA
T/Sgt. Edwin E. NOLEN -KIA
S/Sgt. Frank PERRONE -KIA
S/Sgt. James R. ADAMS -KIA
S/Sgt. William W. BRODERICK -KIA
S/Sgt. Henry P. EGERTON -KIA
This was the only bomber where not one crew member was able to rescue himself by parachute.
IN COMMEMORATION
August 3rd 1944 eight B24 Liberator Heavy Bombers of the
15th USAAF, based at Pantanella in southern Italy, were
shot down by fighters of the German Air Force over the area
of the Fernpaß, one of which crashed 200 meters north of the Lermoos Village Church. This B24 was from the 465th Bomber Group,
782 Bomber Squadron. From these eight aircraft, crewed by
79 airmen, 30 lost their lives on this day.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
15th Air Force
465th Bomber Group (H)
55th Bomber Wing
782nd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomber Group
Wars:
WWII
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