In the woods, on the west side of Terne des Vaches.

Plaque

A square white plaque that details the history and significance of the area on April 22, 1944, written in English and French. The memorial was erected in 2023 and was erected by the organization which was founded by Paul Delahaye. It was called the Belgo-Americain Foundation but after Paul died in 2013, the name was changed to Devoir de Mémoire de Momignies-Chimay.

On April 22, 1944,  the airmen were in the hut when German forces surrounded the area. The hut's location was compromised, leading to the capture of the airmen and the two inhabitants of the place, Henri Fontaine and Joseph Simon, who had been helping them. The hut was initially constructed to provide shelter and safety for the eight airmen and their rescuers. It was made from fagots (bundles of sticks) and earth, offering temporary protection from the elements and potential detection by German forces.

After their arrest, the airmen were interrogated, stripped of their identification, and then executed in these woods, while the two Belgians were deported to a concentration camp in Germany from which they did not return The hut itself was no longer a haven but rather the site where their final moments of relative safety ended

Source of information: fr.wikipedia.org 

Source of photos: Steve Snyder

First column:

At this particular place, a hut. hidden by firewood and embankment. was built to shelter eight Allied airmen. resupplied by two Chimay inhabitants named Florent Simon and Henri Fontaine.

On April 22nd, 1944, at 8 o'clock a.m., eight airmen and Henri Fontaine who was a young man refusing to work in Germany, were encircled and arrested by the nazi occupying forces.

The eight airmen were killed In these woods some hours later .

On one of the neighboring birches, the words "Douglas to Mary'' with a heart had been carved by one of the American airmen.

Lest we never forget !

These young men sacrificed their youth and their life to defend our freedoms !

Thank you to respect this place !

This site has already been dug cautiously.

Second column:

C'est à cet endroit précis qu'une cabane, protegée par des fagots at une levin de terre, fut érigée afin d abriter huit aviateurs alliés. ravitalliés par deux chimaciens,  Mr Florent Simon et Mr Henri Fontaine.

Le 22 avril 1944, vers 08h00 le matin, les huit aviateurs et le jeune Henri Fontaine, refractaire, sont encerclés et arrêtés par l'occupant nazi.

Les huit aviateurs seront assassinés dans ces bois quelque heures plus tard.

Sur un des bouleaux proches de la cabane l'inscription « Douglas to Mary » ornée d'un œur fut gravée par un des aviateurs américains.

Passants, souvenez-vous !

Ces jeunes gents ont sacrifié leur jeunesse et leur vie pour défendre nos libertés !

Merci de respecter ces lieux !

Ce site a déjà fait l'objet de fouilles minutieuses