Crew Number: 11, Mission Number 89, Target La   Glacerie FR
– Source: 390th Memorial Museum)

MACR 4169

On April 20, 1944 the bomber B-17G 42-37890 took off from FRAMLINGHAM (AAF station 153) with a crew of ten airmen.
They were part of the 568th Bomber squadron, 390th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force. Their plane had the names “Big Friend”
and “Rovin’ Ramona II” painted on its   fuselage. Its identification letters were BI-R.

This plane and crew were part of a 174 bomber formation which, after flying over London, was heading to the French coast.
They were apparently targeting the flak positions in the Cherbourg area, especially the V1 and V2 launching sites.

It was 1847 and their flying altitude was 18,500 at coordinates 49 deg. 36 min. N – 01 deg. 33 min. W, when they got hit by
flak just after dropping their bombs near Cherbourg.

The plane peeled off to the right of the formation and went down in a spin with at least one engine and a wing on fire. It then
began to dive. Other crews in the formation reported that it exploded at that moment.

The people of Brix who saw the bomber falling asserted that the remains mostly scattered around the lake know as “Genetel”
but also around  “la Mare de Brix” and “l’Ectot”.

Ten men were on board. Only one of them survived. Sergeant Jesse W. Roberts.

-Pilot                                 1^st Lt.   MANN Richard L.
-Co-pilot                            2^nd Lt. VAUGHAN John E.
-Nose Turret Gunner           Pfc. KWOKA Valter J.
-Bombardier                       2^nd Lt. McKinnon Cameron
-Radio Operator                  Cpl. ANDERSON Bernard A.
-Top Turret Gunner             T/Sgt ROBERTS Jesse W.
-Ball Turret Gunner             S/Sgt ZUCCO Raymond
-Tail Gunner                       S/Sgt OVERSTREET Mark I.
-Right Waist Gunner            S/Sgt HERMANAU Walter E.
-Left Waist Gunner              T/Sgt WEDEMEYER Robert T.

Let us salute these brave Airmen’s heroism and all those who, like them, fought through the Northern Cotentin to defend
the land of France and Freedom.

Let their memory not sink into oblivion.

– Source: Sign on memorial marker placed in 2004 by the local community and located at the crossing of route D50
(route des Forges) and D119, Brix, Manche, France. Web page with photos.