Memorial Crash Douglas C-47

The monument is located just outside the village on the Route de Saint-Thomas. It is not indicated with signs.

On August 11, 1943, C47 42-92061 was en route from Nutts Corner Airfield near Belfast to St Mawgan Airfield in Cornwall. Due to bad weather, the crew missed St Mawgan and ended up over occupied Brittany. Here they were intercepted by Feldwebel Aloïs Schnöll and his colleague (name unknown). Both were part of the 2nd Von Richthofen squadron and flew in FW 190s. The C47 was then shot down and crashed in a field just outside Pleuven (photo 3). 2nd Lieutenant Lloyd C. Mahurin, 2nd Lieutenant Sidney H. Jablowit, Corporal Sam Kahn and Flight Officer Louis E. Rapin were killed in the crash. Crew chief Sergeant Cecil E. Bell survived the crash and returned to England with the help of the French resistance. He then went to work at an airport near Dallas, Texas. He is still alive.

Mahurin, Jablowitz, Kahn and Rapin were buried in front of the church in Pleuven. They were reburied after the liberation. Mahurin ended up in Ardennes (where I finally adopted his grave a few years ago. Jablowitz is on Britanny in St. James. Kahn has returned to the US and is located in Miami, FLA and Rapin in St. Ignace, MI.

The monument in Pleuven was placed years ago, although the information is not entirely correct. Names are wrong and it says they were shot by ME109s. After some research from my side it turned out to be FW190s. C47 42-92061 also appears to be the first Dakota in Western Europe to be shot.

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Source

• Text: Jimmy Hilgen
• Photos: Jimmy Hilgen