Memorial Crash B-17 42-29971

A war memorial was placed years ago in Beek (Limburg) near the Oude Pastorie 25.
This memorial, in the shape of a wing, commemorates the crash on 14 October 1943 of an American B-17F bomber, in which some crew members were killed.

Text on the monument:
Freedom is not self-evident
42-29971

The plaque states:
THUNDER IN THE HEAVEN
In memory of the crew of the American B-17F bomber, which crashed nearby on 14 October 1943 at 13:30.

1. Keith Cole - pilot - killed in action - age 24
2. Robert Partridge - co-pilot - prisoner of war - 25 years
3. Joseph Columbus - bombardier - prisoner of war - 22 years
4. Charles Kuehn - navigator - prisoner of war - 22 years old
5. Robert Folke - top turret gunner / engineer - prisoner of war - 22 years old
6. Clay Shields - radio operator - killed in action - age 24
7. Donald Richardson - turret gunner - killed in action - age 22
8. Fred Zumpf - air gunner - killed - age 19
9. Adrian Wright - air gunner - prisoner of war - age 20
10. Irving Mills - tail gunner - prisoner of war - age 23

On the bench is written:
Plane and soldiers to the ground
That's why we walk free

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Source

• Text: André Hendriks
• Photos: André Hendriks (1), André Hendriks (2)