Monument Details

B-17 (41-24399) 'Man-O-War' Churchyard Plaque -91st Bomber Group

Details:

At the entrance to the churchyard.

Plaque

A marble plaque thanking the people of Opijnen for honoring the American crewmen of the B-17 (41-24399) "MAN-O-WAR" of the 323rd Bomber Squadron, 91th Bomber Group that crashed over Opijnen.

After a bombing raid on the Messerschmitt factory in Kassel (Germany) the crew tried to get back to their base in England. But at 11:00 their B17 of the 91 Bomb Group American Air Force with the name 'Man-O-War', was shot down by German fighter planes. The plane crashed in Opijnen, eight of the ten crew members were KIA. These eight men are interred in this cemetery.

The 'Man-O-War' crew consisted of:

2nd. Lt. Keene C. McCammon, Pilot (Survived);

2nd Lt. John P. Bruce, Co-pilot (Survived);

1st Lt. Robert U. Duggan, Navigator;

2nd Lt. Daniel V. Ohman, Bombardier;

S/Sgt. Hermon D. Poling, Tail Gunner;

S/Sgt. Harold R. Sparks, Waist Gunner;

S/Sgt. George R. Krueger, Waist Gunner;

S/Sgt. Mike A. Perrota, Ball Turret Gunner;

T/Sgt. Douglas V. Blackwood, Radio Operator;

T/Sgt. Americo Cianfichi, Engineer.

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