USAAF 305 Bomb Group

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Reference WMO/221045

Address:

Abbey Road

Daventry

NN11 4FP

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace
Description: Board/Plaque/ Tablet
Materials:
  • Stone Stone (any)
Lettering: Inscribed on a plaque
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: US Armed Forces: This memorial was unveiled on 23rd August 2015 to commemorate the lives of nine USAAF airmen of the 305th Bomb Group, who were killed on 15th December 1944. The crew were returning from a bombing mission to Kassel in foggy conditions with limited visibility. Their B-17 Flying Fortress was damaged from flak and they were unsure of their position. In attempting to use beacons to land, they collided with the stay of a radar GEE mast on Borough Hill, crashing in Norton. All onboard were killed. The memorial faces Borough Hill. Five of the crew are buried at the American Military Cemetery in Madingley, Cambridge. The crash site was excavated by Sywell Aviation museum, who have artefacts from the excavation on display.
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DEDICATED TO THE NINE AMERICAN AIRMEN OF THE 305 BOMB GROUP WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES ON 15TH DECEMBER 1944 WHEN THEIR B17 FLYING FORTRESS HIT THE AIR MINISTRY GEE MAST ON BOROUGH HILL RETURNING FROM A BOMBING MISSION OVER KASSEL GERMANY THEY DIED THAT THE IDEALS OF DEMOCRACY MIGHT LIVE 1st Lt. FINIS E. HARRIS F/O. JOHN A. GRIFFIN 2nd Lt. ROBERT L. MASON 2nd Lt. LAVERNE D. RIDGE T/Sgt. CLIFFORD B. MELTON T/Sgt. HERSHEL L. MCCOY S/Sgt. ROBERT L. BURRY S/Sgt. CHARLES W. NORDLAND S/Sgt. WILLIE L. BARNES B17 G 43-38973 422nd Bombardment Squadron LEST WE FORGET

1st Lt. Finis E. Harris, F/O. John A. Griffin, 2nd Lt. Robert L. Mason, 2nd Lt. LaVerne D. Ridge, T/Sgt. Clifford B. Melton, T/Sgt Hershel L. McCoy, S/Sgt. Robert L. Burry, S/Sgt. Charles W. Nordland, S/Sgt. Willie L. Barnes.

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