B-24 (41-29306) 'K for King' Crash Memorial- 445th Bomber Group
Details:
At the base of a light pole at the road edge.
A clear plastic inscribed plaque mounted to a polished stone base.
The plaque remembers B-24 (41-29306) "K for King" (Also known as "Marez-ee-Dotes") of the 700th Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group. The B-24 was shot down while returning from a mission to Koblenz on April 22, 2944. The plane crashed at this location and the crew members were assisted by the local resistance; most were captured but two crew members, SSG Varty and SSG Mahoney, were killed while fighting along side the local Resistance in May 1944 and September 1944 respectively.
The crew consisted of:
1st Lt Francis C. Sneed, Pilot, POW
2nd Lt Charles L. Riddle, Co-Pilot, POW
2nd Lt Ray O. Hargis, Navigator, POW
2nd Lt John W. Bryant, Bombardier, POW
S/Sgt Robert M. Varty, Radio Operator, Evaded/POW/Executed
S/Sgt John F. Mahoney, Right Waist Gunner Evaded/Executed
Sgt Charles B. Coffman, Left Waist Gunner, POW
Sgt Harry A. Kolinski, Engineer Top Turret Gunner, POW
Sgt Harold E. White, Belly Turret Gunner, POW
Sgt James R. Cockriel, Tail Gunner Escape and Evaded
A memorial and a cenotaph remembers SSG Makoney in Anzegem, Belgium.
This memorial was dedicated on April 22, 2009 in the presence of the son of SSG Mahoney.
Source: https://www.hangarflying.eu
Monument Text:
The plaque is etched in Flemish and French. The plaque also includes a picture of the crew with crew member names.
The French reads:
C'estici que s'écrasa Je 22 avril 1944 à 20h30 le bombardier B-24, "Liberator K for King', de l'armée de l'air Américaine lors du retour d'une mission en Allemagne.
Les membres de T'équipage ont pu sauter en parachute juste avant l'impact et certains ont été aidés par la résistancelocale.
The English translation:
This is where the U.S. Army Air Force B-24 bomber, "Liberator K for King," crashed at 8:30 p.m. on April 22, 1944, while returning from a mission to Germany. The crew members were able to parachute out just before impact, and some were helped by the local resistance.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
445th Bomber Group (Heavy)
700th Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy
8th Air Force
Resistance
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
