In front of the Halvergate and Tunstall war memorial.

Plaque

A large granite plaque laid on the ground commemorating 3 airplane crashes (1 of the RCAF, and 2 of the USAAF) that is inscribed in English in white text. The plaque lists 11 Americans, four Canadians, one Briton, and one Irishman who lost their lives in three separate crashes on marshland near the village. The 11 Americans were the crew of the B-24 #41-28795 and B-24 #42-95084 “Bird Dog.”

On May 8, 1944, B24H Liberator 41-28795 of the 66th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, crashed at 12:20 in the Halvergate Marsh, when it was shot down during a practice flight at 23,000 feet. Two of the eight crew members were killed and one was injured in the crash.

Lt. Musgrave Crew:

1st/Lt. Forest M. Musgrave Pilot (KIA)

2nd/Lt. Roderick F. Rice Co Pilot

2nd/Lt. Weldon P. Branch Jr Navigator

2nd/Lt. Arnold J. Dovey Nav-Radar

2nd/Lt. Donald S Permar Bombardier

2nd/Lt. Arthur B. Ross Bombardier

T/Sgt. George E. Russell Engineer

T/Sgt. Lawrence E. Cargill Radio Op. (KIA)

On the 13th of July 1944, the B-24 #42-95084 “Bird Dog” took off from Attlebridge for a bombing raid on Saarbrucken in Germany, but crashed at Low Farm, Tunstall. All crew members were killed. The exact cause is unclear but may have been an engine fire or loss of control of instrumentation. The bomb load of twelve 500-pound bombs did not explode on impact.

Bird Dog Crew:

2nd Lt. Adam E Wunderlich, O-817869, Pilot

2nd Lt. Russell L Olson, O-763320, Co-Pilot

2nd Lt. Milton M Dobkin, O-716383, Navigator

S/Sgt. Frank C Church, 37503992, Radio Operator

Sgt. Ralph W Fleming, 33633153, Ball Turret Gunner

Sgt. William Mallory, 15078777, Tail Gunner

Sgt. William C Myers, 33733666, Nose Gunner

Sgt. Harry R Thomas, 33592743, Gunner

S/Sgt. Charles E Thompson, 36195604, Flight Engineer

Source of information: www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk, www.findagrave.com, www.heritagegateway.org.uk

IN GRATEFUL MEMORY

In the course of World War II, three planes, in a separate incidents,

crashed onto the marshes below the villages of Halvergate and Turnstall.

In all, 17 airmen from three different air forces lost their lives.

(-RCAF crew here-)

On 8th May 1944, in a B-24 Liberator

On 13th July 1944, in a B-24 Liberator

“We will remember them.”