Memorial for Allied Air Crew

[30Three]

In our part of France there are several small memorials for Allied crews of Bomber command and the US bomber crews.
Last week we saw a new memorial for a Halifax crew. On the 7th of June 1944; they were shot down during a bombing run on the railway line in Chateaudun.
All seven perished in the crash. In a field Just outside the town; adjacent to a level crossing and main road.
It is great to see the French communities keeping the memory alive.


At that time; the urgency to bomb this particular line; was due to the fact that Messerschmitt 262 jet's were stationed at Chateaudun airfield. But they couldn't be flown without the fuel; which was in short supply. The rail line was the transportation link for the fuel.

The Bombing raids on this line weren't successful; and the rail link was eventually blown by the local Resistance. Who had recovered an unexploded 500lbs bomb; then transported it to the viaduct at Marboue. It was set off with 15kg of plastic explosive. A successful outcome for a very risky job.

[30Three]

Here's a couple of photos of the viaduct after the Resistance blew it up. Photos are from an archive of local Veterans association.

[Terry Hawker]

Last week we saw a new memorial for a Halifax crew. On the 7th of June 1944; they were shot down during a bombing run on the railway line in Chateaudu

30Three,

Many thanks for posting this.
It is a nice change to see a Halifax crew receive some acknowledgement for their service.
My father was the Bomb Aimer (not "Bombardier" in the RAF), with my Uncle Tim his Pilot, on "S" for Sugar of 76 Squadron. I'm sure they are both looking down with smiles on their faces.

[Flying10uk]

the viaduct after the Resistance blew it up

But were there any reprisals taken out on the local residents?

[30Three]

Probably not directly linked; but a few years ago I was told by Bernard; (a 98 year old local ex-Resistant) That 5 (or possibly 6) of his colleagues were stopped one evening by the Nazi's . They shot them on the side of the road near Cormainville. They were his buddies. This would have been shortly before the liberation; so either late July or early August.
It was clear that the memory was still fresh over 75 years later.

Bernard passed away a couple of years ago; just short of his 100th birthday.