Crash Site B-17 303rd BG Lead Squadron "A" Group, #42-39786 USAAF

The memorial for the B-17 of the 303BG 427 BS is located on the Route de Solre-Saint-Géry, at the place called 'Grand tournant.' The aircraft crashed here on 29 January 1944.

Crew members : Pilot : Jim Fowler, Co-pilot : Bernie Rawlings, Navigator : Joe Thompson, Bombardier : Alvin Taylor, Flight engineer : Curtis Finley, Radio Operator : Don Dinwiddle, Tail gunner : Jack Ferguson, Ball turret gunner : Dick Arrington, Waist gunner : Loren Zimmer : Waist gunner : Miller Jackson

Pilot Sec. Lt. James F. Fowler and T/Sgt. Donald J. Dinwiddie managed to evade capture until 13 May 1944, when they were betrayed by a French doctor and his wife near Lille, who drove them to a German outpost.
Sec. Lt. Bernard W. Rawlings evaded capture and made his way back to England after crossing the Pyrenees into Spain.
Sec. Lt. Alvin L. Taylor, Sec. Lt. Joseph C. Thompson, Jr. and S/Sgt. Jack D. Ferguson were badly wounded. They were taken to a civilian hospital by Belgians where they were captured and cared for by Germans.
Sgt. Curtis E. Finley was with Lt. Rawlings until they split up, after which he was captured not far from the Spanish border.
S/Sgt. Richard Arrington evaded capture and was picked up by American troops in September 1944.
S/Sgt. Loren E. Zimmer bailed out at about 150-200 ft. altitude and landed in a bog. He managed to evade capture and was picked up by American troops in September 1944.
Sgt. Miller O. Jackson died from severe wounds after the crash

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Source

• Text: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• Photos: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• https://www.303rdbg.com/
• https://www.hangarflying.eu/