Champeaux, 35-Ile-et-Vilaine, in the region of Bretagne, France

In Champeaux, just before crossing the Ruisseau de Palet, there is a church on the northern side of the road stands a plaque dedicated to the crew of Hell's Belles II (B-17F 42-5849)⇗, who were shot down by enemy aircraft September 16, 1943 and crashed near Rennes, France. Three of the crew members, S/Sgt. Herbert May (Ball Turret Gunner), S/Sgt. Marion Rogers (Waist Gunner), and Sgt. Walter Sword (Waist Gunner) were killed in action. Five others, 2nd Lt. Herman Wollenweber Jr. (Co-Pilot), 2nd Lt. Edward Knowling (Navigator), S/Sgt. Burnia Martin (Togglier), S/Sgt. Preston Davis (Radio Operator), and Sgt. Clarence Barnes (Tail Gunner) were captured and taken prisoners of war. S/Sgt. Howard Turlington (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner) evaded capture and made it back to England nine months later, in June of 1944. 1st Lt. Johnny Butler (Pilot) evaded capture and made it back to England a year later, in September of 1944. 

Hell's Belles II crewmembers: 

• 1st Lt. Johnny Addison Butler⇗, Age: 26 (Pilot, Evaded capture/Wounded) 

Missions flown: 14

• 2nd Lt. Herman Wollenweber Jr.⇗, Age: 23 (Co-Pilot, POW) 

Hometown: Bucyrus, Ohio

Missions flown: 14

• 2nd Lt. Edward Johnson Knowling⇗, Age: 23 (Navigator, POW) 

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee

Missions flown: 14

• S/Sgt. Burnia Martin⇗, Age: 22 (Togglier, POW) 

Missions flown: 14

• S/Sgt. Preston Allen Davis⇗, Age: 22 (Radio Operator, POW)

Hometown: Avoca, Arkansas

Missions flown: 14

• S/Sgt. Howard Joe Turlington⇗, Age: 24 (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, Evaded capture)

Hometown: Harnett County, North Carolina

Missions flown: 14

• S/Sgt. Herbert Ethred May⇗, Age: 25 (Ball Turret Gunner, KIA)

Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts

Missions flown: 10

Resting place: Brittany American Cemetery, Saint-James, France: Plot I, Row 17, Grave 7

• Sgt. Clarence Basil Barnes⇗, Age: 24 (Tail Gunner, POW)

Missions flown: 4

• S/Sgt. Marion Coleman Rogers⇗, Age: 26 (Waist Gunner, KIA)

Hometown: Ripley, Mississippi

Missions flown: 14

Resting place: Pine Grove Cemetery, Pine Grove, Mississippi

• Sgt. Walter Howard Sword⇗, Age: 21 (Waist Gunner, KIA)

Hometown: Brentwood, Maryland

Missions flown: 5

Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery: Section 34, Grave 2389

The memorial reads: "A LA GLORIEUSE MEMOIRE DES 23 ENFANTS DE CHAMPEAUX MORTS POUR LA PATRIE 1914 - 1918." Translation: "To the glorious memory of the 23 children of Champeaux who died for the Fatherland, 1914 - 1918"

The accompanying plaque reads: "En mémoire des Aviateurs Américains du 384ème BG. Morts pour notre liberté à Champeaux le 16.08.1943."

Translation: "In memory of the American aviators of the 384th BG: S/Sgt H.E MAY, Sgt. M.C. ROGER, Sgt. W.H. SWORD. Killed for our liberty over Champeaux on 09.16.1943."

Placing the 384th plaque on their original WWI memorial was the town’s way of officially adopting these men as their own sons.

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