Jabbeke, Belgium

At the northeast corner of the intersection between Zomerweg and Oude Bruggeweg in Jabbeke, Belgium, stands a monument dedicated to the Damn Yankee⇗ (B-17F 41‑24557) crew. 

The Damn Yankee memorial was born from Luc Packo’s personal mission, since the age of 12, to ensure the crew’s sacrifice was never forgotten. After decades of searching the crash site and connecting with the airmen's families, Luc designed the original stone monument inaugurated on December 1, 1990, followed by a detailed Corten steel information board added on June 5, 2021. Because no crew photo exists, Luc reconstructed the information board with bilingual text using his private archives and photos gathered during his research for his books, Jabbeke 1940-1947 and Bail Out. Today, Luc and his son continue to maintain the site and host visiting relatives, keeping the history of these airmen alive through the memorial and his private museum room.

The Damn Yankee crew were shot down by enemy aircraft December 1, 1943. Five of the crewmembers were killed in action, one evaded capture, and four crewmembers were captured and taken prisoners of war.

Damn Yankee crewmembers: 

• 2nd Lt. Bruce George Sundlun⇗, Age: 23 (Pilot, Evaded capture/Wounded) 

Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island

Missions flown: 13

• 2nd Lt. Andrew John Boles Jr.⇗, Age: 26 (Co-Pilot, POW) 

Missions flown: 2

• 2nd Lt. Reino Oswal Jylkka⇗, Age: 27 (Navigator, POW) 

Hometown: Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Missions flown: 14

• S/Sgt. George Clayborne Hayes⇗, Age: 31 (Togglier, KIA)

Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

Missions flown: 13

Resting place: Raleigh National Cemetery, North Carolina

• T/Sgt. Charles Leslie Snyder⇗, Age: 19 (Radio Operator, POW)

Hometown: Adrian, West Virginia

Missions flown: 13

• T/Sgt. William Marion Ramsey⇗, Age: 23 (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, POW)

Home state: Oklahoma 

Missions flown: 12

• S/Sgt. Harry Francis Cologne⇗, Age: 28 (Ball Turret Gunner, KIA)

Hometown: Parkersburg, West Virginia

Missions flown: 1

Resting place: Union Cemetery, Steubenville, Ohio

• S/Sgt. Frank Lekas⇗, Age: 20 (Tail Gunner, KIA)

Hometown: Passaic County, New Jersey

Missions flown: 13

Resting place: Épinal American Cemetery, France: Plot A, Row 7, Grave 46

• S/Sgt. Mike Joseph Cappelletti⇗, Age: 25 (Waist Gunner, KIA)

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

Missions flown: 14

Resting place: Épinal American Cemetery: Plot A, Row 6, Grave 70

• S/Sgt. Chester Paul Snyder⇗, Age: 25 (Waist Gunner, KIA)

Hometown: Binghamton, New York

Missions flown: 3

Resting place: Épinal American Cemetery: Plot A, Row 34, Grave 14