In front of the American aircrews isolated graves.

The monument consists of a vertical A-20 propeller blade inscribed with a dedication and the names of U.S. aircrew members who died in a crash near Quebec during World War II.

On 18 October 1942, a three-man crew of a Douglas A-20 modified F3-Havoc (#39-745) from the 1st Photographic Mapping Squadron, 1st Mapping Group, based out of Bradley Field, Connecticut, deployed on a mission to map the area of the Saint Lawrence River towards the Atlantic, as part of reconnaissance along the so-called Crimson Route initially plannied for ferrying short-range planes and material from North America to Europe during World War II. Their specific task was marking and photographing areas where aircraft could make emergency landings, or where enemy aircraft might have landed in the event of potential attacks on Allied shipping lanes or coastal sites.

While flying near the town of Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, Quebec, Canada, the aircraft appeared to have engine problems and exploded mid-air. The aircraft broke apart and fell to the ground near the town, about 27 kilometers southeast of Quebec City. Crew members were killed instantly, and wreckage was spread over a wide area. In the subsequent search and recovery efforts, only remnants of the three crew members were found. Their recovered remains were interred together in the Mount-Hermon Cemetery in Quebec City.

(NOTE: From available information, it appears that during 1942, Headquarters, 1st Mapping Group was located at Bowling Field (later Bolling AFB) in Washington, DC, while subordinate unit 1st Photographic Mapping Squadron (designation in 1942 - changed over time) was based out of Bradley Field, CT.)

Source of information: newspaperarchive.com, en.wikipedia.org, secure.boeingimages.com, aviation-safety.net, web.archive.org

Source of photos: find a grave

IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS WHO DIED

IN LINE OF DUTY WHEN THEIR AIRPLANE CRASHED NEAR ST-CHARLES QUEBEC ON

OCTOBER 19-1942

____________________

2ND LT. HARLEY W. SHOAT

2ND LT. LEE D. KERR

STAFFSGT. JOHN R. CARTER