Monument

A stone monument that has a circular top featuring a symbol resembling a compass or aviation insignia mounted on a triangular base commemorating 2Lt Burch who died on December 23, 1943. The monument is written in English.

On the night of December 23-24, 1943, a group of seven escapees, including four airmen and three civilians, led by Jean-François Nothomb and two guides, attempted to cross the flooded Bidasoa River. Two of the escapees, Count Antoine d'Ursel (former leader of the Comète Network in Belgium) and Second Lieutenant Jim F. Burch (a USAAF co-pilot), drowned in the strong currents. Burch had been shot down over Holland and, with the help of the Comète Network, made it to the Basque Country to escape to England.

The Germans recovered their bodies and displayed them publicly to intimidate locals, but the villagers covered them with flowers in defiance. The furious Nazis removed the bodies, which were never found. These two were the only escapees who perished while under the care of the Comète Sud network.

Source of information: http://www.biriatou.fr

Source of photo: www.memorialgenweb.org

SERVICE – SACRIFICE

2nd Lt

James Frederick **

BURCH, USAAF

16 Aug. 1917

23 Dec. 1943

** Name is Jim