On the side yard.

Statue

A two-meter sculpture tribute to Captain Clough F. Gee, who lost his life on June 7, 1944. The sculpture was made from the wreckage pieces of the plane of Captain Gee’s aircraft. The sculpture was created by the European artist Yvan Barbieri and was inaugurated in July 2023.

Captain Clough F. Gee piloted a P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-25339 nicknamed “Bucephalus II,” during his final mission on June 7, 1944. He was part of the 362nd Fighter Group, 379th Fighter Squadron, 9th Air Force, and that day’s mission was armed reconnaissance over Le Havre and Argentan, France. Taking off from Station 412 in Headcorn, England, Gee’s squadron encountered little ground movement and targeted railway lines to disrupt German logistics. However, on their return, they were ambushed near Fierville-les-Parcs by German Fw 190 fighters, resulting in Gee being shot down at approximately 4:00 p.m. His plane crashed, and the local community later recovered his body. The wreckage, later recovered and preserved by residents, remained in the area for decades.

Source of information: www.thecitadelmemorialeurope.org, francecrashes39-45.net, www.normandie44lamemoire.com

Source of photos: /francecrashes39-45.net, www.francebleu.fr