Memorial Sign Crash Location B-24J Liberator ‘42-99966’ ‘Full House’

On 7 July 1944, the B-24 of USAAF 68 Bomb Squadron took off from Royal Air Force Air Base Shipdham, as part of an attack wave for a bombing raid on the German aircraft factories of Junkers-Zweigwerke in Bernburg. Above the target the B-24 was attacked by German fighters and was badly damaged, with three engines damaged the aircraft started the return journey. At around 11 am, the B-24 crashed here in Valthe as a result of a fire on board. The nine crew members managed to leave the aircraft with their parachutes. Six were taken prisoner of war and one managed to escape. Two crew members were killed and are being reburied in the American cemetery in Neuville-en-Condroz. One of these was killed by a Dutch Landwacht immediately after he landed.

Crew:
Pilot 1st Lt. T.L. Weaver O-693829 USAAF Survived evader
Co-Pilot 1st Lt. W.B. Shambarger O-700998 USAAF Belgium D-11-28 Ardennes Cemetry
Navigator 1st Lt. L. Platt Jr. O-706965 USAAF Survived POW
Bombardier 1st Lt. R.E. Read O-699567 USAAF Survived POW
Engineer T/Sgt. J.S. Gniadek 31258858 USAAF Survived POW
Radio Operator T/Sgt. D.F. Fahey 37506294 USAAF Survived POW
LW Gunner Sgt. S.G. Nalipa 15324363 USAAF Belgium A-37-1 Ardennes Cemetry
RW Gunner S/Sgt. M.L. Crouse 35631988 USAAF Survived POW
T Gunner S/Sgt. L.L. Voigt 19186262 USAAF Survived POW

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Source

• Text: Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe, in samenwerking met en mogelijk gemaakt door de Historische Vereniging Carspel Oderen.
• Photos: Rob Wethly, SLO Drenthe
• Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe