USAAF 437th Troop Carrier Group

There are no available images for this memorial. Help us by submitting one!

Submit a new image

Reference WMO/195963

Address:

The Red Lion Carpark

Axford

Marlborough

SN8 2HA

England

Open large map

Edit memorial name, location & address

Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace

Description: Cairn

Materials:

Stone Stone (any)

Lettering: Incised

Conflicts:

Second World War (1939-1945)

About the memorial: 437th Troop Carrier Group and Crash 11 March 1944 Memorial cairn dedicated to honour the members of the 437th Troop Carrier Group, United Stated Army Ninth Air Force, who during World War II were stationed at Ramsbury Airfield, and participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Ardennes Northern France; Rome-Arno, Southern France; Rhineland and Central Europe. Note by Neil Stevens, Newark: 'I had this memorial erected with the financial assistance of crash survivior the late Lee Gillette of St Croix, USVI and the 437th TCG association. It was erected in 1993 and dedicated on May 28th 1994 in the presence of Lee Gillette, his wife and family and three other 437th Vets all of whom have now passed on. The then present day 437th Airlift Wing were represented, as was the 82nd Airborne. Flypasts were performed by a 437th C141 Starlifter, an RAF C130 Hercules, A C47 from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a Piper L4 Cub provided and flown by ken Wakefield. The dedication ceremony featured the Ramsbury Band and the wonderful help and assistance of the Ramsbury Branch of the Royal British Legion. In subsequent years and after the advent of the internet, Major Bradley's son and Lt Strong's surviving family members were both tracked down in the US.'

Edit memorial details

Report a concern with this memorial

Report a duplicate memorial record

Report an inappropriate record

Submit a condition update

Report this condition update

View more details

Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.

Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.

If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.

The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.

You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.

Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

pre-application

As a charity, War Memorials Trust relies on voluntary donations and every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a really big difference to our work. Your donation will help protect and conserve war memorials for future generations so please support War Memorials Trust’s work.

donate here

Submit a new comment

Comments:

From May–December 1943, the 437th Troop Carrier Group trained with cargo planes in Indiana, Missouri, and North Carolina. In January 1944, the group deployed to England, where it prepared for the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. During the Normandy campaign, the group released gliders over Cherbourg and carried troops, weapons, ammunition, rations, and other supplies for the 82nd Airborne Division in Operation Neptune. For these actions, the group received a Distinguished Unit Citation.
The air echelon deployed to Italy in July 1944 and participated in the Allied invasion of southern France in August 1944 dropping paratroops of the 1st Airborne Task Force. During Operation Market Garden in September 1944, the group released gliders carrying troops and equipment for the airborne attack in the occupied Netherlands. In December 1944, the group re-supplied the 101st Airborne Division in the Bastogne area of Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. After moving to France in February 1945, the unit released gliders in support of an American crossing of the Rhine River called Operation Varsity in March 1945. The 437th continued to supply the offensive forces in April, while also evacuating wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals. After V-E Day, the group evacuated prisoners of war and displaced persons to relocation centers. The group then returned to the United States and was inactivated.

Submitted by:

Submitted date:

Submit a new link

Report this link

Edit information

Inscription:

Dedicated to honour the members of the 437th Troop Carrier Group United Stated Army Ninth Air Force World War II who were stationed at Ramsbury Airfield and participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Ardennes Northern France Rome-Arno, Southern France Rhineland and Central Europe. Where the River Kennet flows over the small weir below this spot Major Donald E Bradley and 1st Lt Gaylord Strong members of the 83rd Squadron 437th Troop Carrier Group died in the crash of a Douglas Dakota C47 aircraft on March 11th 1944. They were attempting to retrieve a Horsa glider that had broken free in a practice mission and landed in the field above this spot. Captain Lee Gilletre, 83rd squadron Flight Surgeon, although seriously injured survived the accident and returned to duty after 5 weeks in the US Army Hospital at Burderop Park Wroughton Wilts.

Names:

Major Donald E Bradley, 1st Lt Gaylord Strong

Suggest information

Listing grade:

Information Required

Listing URL:

Information Required

Unique listing reference number:

Information Required

Conservation area:

Information Required

Local list / Historic environment record:

Information Required

Claim Custodianship

Custodian name:

Information Required

Custodian website:

Information Required