Thursday
24 August 1944
Start Location:
LA CHAPELLE AU MOINE
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End Location:
LA CHAPELLE AU MOINE
24-27 August entry: The Bn Intelligence Section under the IO left to carry out a search for destroyed enemy equipment in an area round FALAISE.
The Bn remained in the same position and carried out Coy and Pl training under Coy arrangements.
Training with tanks was also carried out. The 4th Gren Gds co-operating.
Bn Church Parade was held on Sunday followed by a march past with the Pipe Band.
The Bn I Sec returned from their search with good results.
D-Day+
79
24 August 1944
Image Links/References to be added (contact us for removal)
Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts)
"While we were in La Chappelle au Moine we had the opportunity of rendering a tribute to one of our American allies. A fortnight before we arrived, an American bomber had been shot down in the vicinity of the village, and a member of the crew had parachuted into a neighbouring field where he was murdered by the S. S. We joined with the French civilian population to give him a proper burial with full military honours in the local cemetery; the villagers carrying great wreaths, formed procession behind the pipers and the episode later received wide publicity and appreciation in the American Press". WIG Wilson, A Short History of the 1st Bttn KOSB in North West Europe
*The Newspaper article details how 1st KOSB were told of an American Airmen who was shot by the S.S. after he bailed out of his B17. The Germans buried him in a field and left him there. When KOSB found out, they exhumed him and placed him in a coffin made by the residents of the village. They then carried his coffin, flanked by pipers and borne by members of the Support Company. The village came together for a burial ceremony (Catholic and Protestant as Airmen's religion was unknown) in the local cemetery. https://maps.app.goo.gl/f62QJJ5zaeCUw52Q6
Article from the Wishaw Press and Advertiser, 29th September, 1944.
UPDATE 8/12/2024 - R Grayling/VM
Aircraft Number 42-97353 crashed at La Bordeliere, near Segrie (NE of Flers) on 13th August 1944.
"97353 (MSN 7826) United Air Lines, Modification Center #10, Cheyenne Municipal Airport, WY 22Feb44. Rapid City Field, SD
8Mar44. 1377th Base Unit (North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command), Grenier Field (Station 16), Manchester, NH 21Apr44. 398th Bomb Group, Nuthampstead (Station 131), Hertfordshire
25Apr44. {nil missions}. 366th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, Chelveston (Station 105), Northamptonshire 1May44.
13Aug44 Failed to return from a mission to battle area support
Damaged by flak, crashed at Flers, France. (2POW:1KIA:6RTD).
*From https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_5.html
Aviator Thomas Lee Crow Jr was exhumed later and reburied in Alabama, United States of America.
FindaGrave record here
*Researchers in France and the USA have provided more information, and photos, of the crew and the events surrounding the crash - here
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Died on this day =
0
Thursday
24 August 1944
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Wounded on this day =