In the center of the path intersections.

A metal plaque attached to two poles standing upright.

The memorial remembers the crew of B-24 (44-10497) of the 700th Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group (also referred to as the Pearson Crew) that crashed at this location on September 27, 1944 during the Air Battle over the Werra Valley during the Kassel Mission. This aircraft 3 Killed in action of 9 crew; the survivors became POWs.

The Kassel Mission: On 27 September 1944, 35 B-24 445th Bomber Group aircraft took off from RAF Tibenham, within an 8th Air Force mission including a total of 283 B-24s and 198 P-51 Mustang fighters escorts. Their specific target that day were the Tiger and Panther tanks manufacuring facilities near Kassel, Germany.

Due to a naviagation error, 35 bombers of the 445th Bomber Group proceeded to their secondary target of Göttingen. After the bomb run, the Group was attacked by about 150 Luftwaffe aircraft, resulting in the downing of 29 German and 25 American planes in a 24-kilometer radius within 5 minutes.

During the mission, 118 U.S. airmen lost their lives, including 11 who were killed on the ground after parachuting safely -- and a further 121 men were taken prisoner.  This mission is considered the greatest single-day loss suffered by any US Army Air Forces (USAAF) Group during the war.

A nearby memorial lists all the nearby crashes.  See Site: Lauchroden - Town center; Kassel Mission (Air Battle over the Werra Valley) Information Board -445th Bomber Group.

A nearby Museum, the Werratal Museum in Gerstungen also includes displays on the "Air Battle over the Werra Valley.

Lastly, a memorial remembers all the killed in action that day, German and American.  See site: Site: Ludwigsau Kassel Mission Airmen's Memorial.

Search "Kassel Mission" for memorials associated with this event on our website.

Special thanks to Kassel Mission Historical Society and to the Werratal Museum- Gerstungen for their efforts in placing these memorials remembering the German and American crewmen involved in the Werra Valley Kassel Mission.

For more on this event and the Kassel Mission Historical Society, see their website: https://www.kasselmission.org

Sources on information and photos: Kassel Mission Historical Society and the Werratal Museum Gerstungen: https://www.gerstungen.de/de/kultur-freizeit-gerstungen.html

Symbols of the Kassel Mission Organization; the 700th Bomber Group Symbol; Symbol of the Werratal Museum and the town of Gerstungen

Depiction with all markings of the Pearson Crew Plane

B-24J 44-10497
Am 27. September 1944 stürzte hier die B-24J 44-10497 Call Letter P+ (Peter) ab.
On 27 September 1944, B-24J 44-10497 Call Letter P+ (Peter) crashed here.

1st Lt Pearson, Ralph H - (Pilot Stalag Luft I)
2nd Lt Dimick, Nelson L - (Copilot Stalag Luft l)
+ 2nd Lt Stearns, Arthur E - (Navigator KIA)
+ F/O Henrikson, Henry J - (Bombardier KIA)
T/Sgt O'Keefe, Doye L - (Radio Operator Stalag Luft IV)
S/Sgt Tachovsky, Harry F - (Waist Gunner Stalag Luft IV)
S/Sgt Loving, John M - (Waist Gunner Stalag Luft IV)
+ T/Sgt Johnson, Robert D - (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -KIA)
S/Sgt Galyon, Dwight F - (Tail Gunner Stalag Luft IV)

Diese Tafel gedenkt allen die an diesem 27. September 1944 ihr Leben ließen.
This memorial is dedicated to all those who lost their lives on this, 27th September 1944.

Aviation artworks by © www.peterfor.com