Rue de l'Eglise, Nubécourt, France

At Nubécourt Church Cemetery, positioned just to the right of the church entrance, stands a monument honoring the crew of B-17G 42-31059⇗ from the 547th Bomb Squadron. On October 14, 1943, during the Group's second raid on Schweinfurt, the aircraft was shot down and crashed near Soissons, France. "Black Thursday" resulted in the loss of nine crews from the 384th, marking their heaviest crew losses so far in the war.

The crash claimed the life of 1st Lt. William Hollis Wilson⇗ (Bombardier). The remaining nine crew members successfully parachuted to the ground, where they sought refuge in the homes of families throughout the Meuse department of France.

The fates of the survivors varied in the weeks that followed. 1st Lt. Donald Potter Ogilvie⇗ (Pilot), and 2nd Lt. Robert Bruce Kilmer Jr.⇗ (Co-Pilot), were captured and held as prisoners of war. The rest of the crew, 2nd Lt. Everett Lynn Childs⇗ (Navigator), T/Sgt. James Raymond Murray⇗ (Radio Operator), T/Sgt. Emmett Alexander Hood⇗ (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner), S/Sgt. James William McKeon⇗ (Ball Turret Gunner), S/Sgt. Louis Lawrence Ratkiewicz⇗ (Tail Gunner), and S/Sgt. William Enoch Martin⇗ and S/Sgt. Francis Robert Sylvia⇗ (Waist Gunners) evaded capture. Several were wounded during the ordeal, but through the assistance of local citizens, all but two of the nine survivors eventually managed to escape across the border to Switzerland.

The monument at the church cemetery serves as a permanent memorial to 1st Lt. Wilson’s sacrifice and the collective effort of the local French families who risked their safety to shelter the crew in the aftermath of the crash.

The inscription reads:

"Le jeudi noir 14 oct 1943 fut abattu un bombardier américain au lieu-dit Griffeny à Nubécourt. le Lt William H. Wilson y laissa la Vie. Par contre 9 membres de l'équipage parachutés furent suavés.

Lt Donald P. OGILVIE, Sgt Emmett A. HOOD, Sgt William E. MARTIN, Lt Robert D. KILMER, Lt Everett L. CHILDS, Sgt Louis R. RATKIEWICZ, Sgt James W. McKEON, Sgt James R. MURRAY, Sgt James R. SILVIA.

Hébergés clandestinement par des familles Meusiennes, ils purent rejoindre la Suisse. En memoire des sacrifices de ces Aviateurs Américains pour la Libération de la FRANCE."

In English, the text states:

"Black Thursday, October 14, 1943 an American bomber was shot at a place called Griffeny near Nubécourt. Lt. William H. Wilson lost his life there. 9 crew members were saved by their parachutes.

Sheltered secretly by families of Meuse, they were able to reach Switzerland. In memory of the sacrifices of these American Airmen for the Liberation of FRANCE."

Further details about the memorial and location can be found on American War Memorials Overseas, Inc.⇗