Monument C-47 #42-93095 - 439 TCG

by , KilroyTrip

Day on 6 June 1944, at 1:12 AM the crew of a C-47 from the 439th Troop Carrier Group and 17 paratroopers from the 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division lost their lives at Beuzeville au Plain for our freedom.

This aircraft n°66 was flying at the head of the formation. Pierced by anti-aircraft shells, it attempted a makeshift landing. Then it crashed violently into a hedge and exploded. It burned continuously for 3 days, with such intense heat that any approach was impossible.

Lieutenant T.Meehan III, commanding Company "E" of the 506th PIR, was on board with the staff section and was carrying maps, documents, plans, "which were sorely lacking" to the troops at the start of the landing.

Producers S.Spielberg and T.Hanks of the film Band of Brothers talk about these missing heroes and Lieutenant T.Meehan III.

During the search, the Forced Landing association will pull out of the 30 cm of ashes only dog tags, crickets, rings, a watch with fossilized hands at 1:12 AM, parachute buckles all closed and a helmet... flat as a sheet of paper.

Crew:

★ 1st Lieutnant. Harold Andrew CAPELLUTO , Pilot, deceased lies in Colleville-sur-Mer Cemetery Plot A , row 9, grave 19.

★ 2nd Lieutnant John Joseph FANELLI. Co-pilot, deceased lies in USA.

★ 2nd Lieutnant  Bernard FRIEDMAN. Navigator, deceased lies in USA.

★ Sergeant Albert Ray Jr. TILLOTSON  Mechanic, deceased lies in USA.

★ Sergeant  Norman Elbert THOMPSON. Radio, deceased lies in USA.

Paratroopers:

★ 1st Lieutnant Thomas Meehan, deceased lies in USA.

★ 1st Sergeant William S.Evans, deceased lies in USA.

★ S/Sergeant Roberts Murray, deceased lies in USA.

★ Sergeant Elmer L. Jr Murray, deceased lies in USA.

★ Sergeant Richard  E. Owen, deceased lies in USA.

★ Sergeant Carl N. Riggs, deceased lies in USA.

★ T5 Herman F. Collins, deceased lies in USA.

★ T5 Ralph H. Wimer, deceased lies in USA.

★T5 Jerry A. Wentzel , deceased lies in USA.

★ PFC Sergio Moya, deceased lies in USA.

★ PFC Gerald R. Snider, deceased lies in USA.

★ PFC William T. McConigal, deceased lies in USA.

★ PFC George L. Elliot, deceased lies in USA.

★ PFC John N. Miller, deceased lies in USA.

★ PVT  Earnest L. Oats, deceased lies in USA.

★ PFC Elmer L.Telstad, deceased lies in USA.

★ PFC Thomas W. Warren, deceased lies in USA.

Day on 6 June 1944, at 1:12 AM the crew of a C-47 from the 439th Troop Carrier Group and 17 paratroopers from the 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division lost their lives at Beuzeville au Plain for our freedom.This aircraft n°66 was flying at the head of the formation. Pierced by anti-aircraft shells, it attempted a makeshift landing. Then it crashed violently into a hedge and exploded. It burned continuously for 3 days, with such intense heat that any approach was impossible.Lieutenant T.Meehan III, commanding Company E of the 506th PIR, was on board with the staff section and was carrying maps, documents, plans, which were sorely lacking to the troops at the start of the landing.Producers S.Spielberg and T.Hanks of the film Band of Brothers talk about these missing heroes and Lieutenant T.Meehan III.During the search, the Forced Landing association will pull out of the 30 cm of ashes only dog tags, crickets, rings, a watch with fossilized hands at 1:12 AM, parachute buckles all closed and a helmet... flat as a sheet of paper.Crew:★ 1st Lieutnant. Harold Andrew CAPELLUTO , Pilot, deceased lies in Colleville-sur-Mer Cemetery Plot A , row 9, grave 19.★ 2nd Lieutnant John Joseph FANELLI. Co-pilot, deceased lies in USA.★ 2nd Lieutnant Bernard FRIEDMAN. Navigator, deceased lies in USA.★ Sergeant Albert Ray Jr. TILLOTSON Mechanic, deceased lies in USA.★ Sergeant Norman Elbert THOMPSON. Radio, deceased lies in USA.Paratroopers:★ 1st Lieutnant Thomas Meehan, deceased lies in USA.★ 1st Sergeant William S.Evans, deceased lies in USA.★ S Sergeant Roberts Murray, deceased lies in USA.★ Sergeant Elmer L. Jr Murray, deceased lies in USA.★ Sergeant Richard E. Owen, deceased lies in USA.★ Sergeant Carl N. Riggs, deceased lies in USA.★ T5 Herman F. Collins, deceased lies in USA.★ T5 Ralph H. Wimer, deceased lies in USA.★T5 Jerry A. Wentzel , deceased lies in USA.★ PFC Sergio Moya, deceased lies in USA.★ PFC Gerald R. Snider, deceased lies in USA.★ PFC William T. McConigal, deceased lies in USA.★ PFC George L. Elliot, deceased lies in USA.★ PFC John N. Miller, deceased lies in USA.★ PVT Earnest L. Oats, deceased lies in USA.★ PFC Elmer L.Telstad, deceased lies in USA.★ PFC Thomas W. Warren, deceased lies in USA.