Monument to Lt. William W. Odom Erpion

On December 30, 1943, the 350th Fighter Squadron of the 353th Fighter Group carried out a support mission for the bombers that were going to bomb Ludwigshafen in Germany. The route of the bombers and their escort ran through Northern France and.Southern Belgium.
Near Montdidier (France) the 353 FG came into contact with the first group of bombers. A short time later they were involved in several skirmishes with enemy fighters.
Lt William Odom's P-47D 42-8398 LH-O 'Flamin Mamie' was last seen in the Charleville-Mézières area. He followed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 while he himself was chased and shot down by a second Bf 109.
Lt Odom's Thunderbolt landed in Erpion.
In 1995, a search was conducted at the crash site for remains of the aircraft.
On September 6, 1997, the memorial for Lt William W. Odom was inaugurated in Erpion.

The text on the memorial plaque reads:

"Died in a final battle.
He crashed there in the countryside.
For him the field of honor.
A sacred field for us.

Lt.WILLIAM ODOM
USAAF – Fighter Group 353
In Thunderbolt – P-47
December 30 1943„

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck