2 Sept 1994 Dedication in France:
We place this plaque here today to honor and keep alive the memory of 6 American crewmen of a B26 Marauder of the 9th Air Force 391st Bomb Group 573rd squadron who died on a combat mission to Pas de Calais on March 19-1944. Our brothers gave their lives during the European conflict so that we might be free. They came to rest here in Palfart, France and were interred in the churchyard of Eglise de I'Immaculee Conception.
In Memoriam
1st Lt Frank Bernzen Jr., Pilote, Boulder, Colorado
2nd Lt John D. Hill, Co-Pilote, Houston, Texas
2nd Lt Thomas R. Dragonetti, Bombardier-Navigator, Brooklyn,NY
Tech Sgt Thaddeus H. Grace, Radio-Gunner, Montgomery, Alabama
Staff Sgt Gale F. Brown, Engineer, Warrenton, Missouri
Staff Sgt John F. La Plante, Tail Gunner, S. Woodstock, VT
Plot D Row 3 Grave 42 St Pol sur Termoise
---------------------------------------------------------
Report: Lt. Frank Bernzen. Hit by flak on turn off from target on first run. Fell away with badly smoking engine and fabric on left stabilizer almost all shot away. Pilot got plane back into formation for a second run on the target. On second run, it was again hit by flak and tail blown off and went down with a full bomb load. No survivors.
------------------------------------------------------------
Siblings: Pauline Bernzen Ridge (Merton), Mildred Bernzen Parks (William), Virginia Bernzen
Wife: Lucie Belle Glass Bernzen of Boulder, Colorado
==========================================================
Crewmen:
John D. Hill - Memorial # 55877544
Thomas R. Dragonetti - Memorial # 82648671
Thaddeus H. Grace - Memorial # 56645025
Gale F. Brown - Memorial # 56642703
John F. LaPlante - Memorial # 56646674
----------------------------------------------------------
Frank Bernzen, Jr. - Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. U.S. Army Air Forces Service # O-738335
-----------------------------------------------------------
We place this plaque here today to honor and keep alive the memory of 6 American crewmen of a B26 Marauder of the 9th Air Force 391st Bomb Group 573rd squadron who died on a combat mission to Pas de Calais on March 19-1944. Our brothers gave their lives during the European conflict so that we might be free. They came to rest here in Palfart, France and were interred in the churchyard of Eglise de I'Immaculee Conception.
In Memoriam
1st Lt Frank Bernzen Jr., Pilote, Boulder, Colorado
2nd Lt John D. Hill, Co-Pilote, Houston, Texas
2nd Lt Thomas R. Dragonetti, Bombardier-Navigator, Brooklyn,NY
Tech Sgt Thaddeus H. Grace, Radio-Gunner, Montgomery, Alabama
Staff Sgt Gale F. Brown, Engineer, Warrenton, Missouri
Staff Sgt John F. La Plante, Tail Gunner, S. Woodstock, VT
Plot D Row 3 Grave 42 St Pol sur Termoise
---------------------------------------------------------
Report: Lt. Frank Bernzen. Hit by flak on turn off from target on first run. Fell away with badly smoking engine and fabric on left stabilizer almost all shot away. Pilot got plane back into formation for a second run on the target. On second run, it was again hit by flak and tail blown off and went down with a full bomb load. No survivors.
------------------------------------------------------------
Siblings: Pauline Bernzen Ridge (Merton), Mildred Bernzen Parks (William), Virginia Bernzen
Wife: Lucie Belle Glass Bernzen of Boulder, Colorado
==========================================================
Crewmen:
John D. Hill - Memorial # 55877544
Thomas R. Dragonetti - Memorial # 82648671
Thaddeus H. Grace - Memorial # 56645025
Gale F. Brown - Memorial # 56642703
John F. LaPlante - Memorial # 56646674
----------------------------------------------------------
Frank Bernzen, Jr. - Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. U.S. Army Air Forces Service # O-738335
-----------------------------------------------------------
2 Sept 1994 Dedication in France:
We place this plaque here today to honor and keep alive the memory of 6 American crewmen of a B26 Marauder of the 9th Air Force 391st Bomb Group 573rd squadron who died on a combat mission to Pas de Calais on March 19-1944. Our brothers gave their lives during the European conflict so that we might be free. They came to rest here in Palfart, France and were interred in the churchyard of Eglise de I'Immaculee Conception.
In Memoriam
1st Lt Frank Bernzen Jr., Pilote, Boulder, Colorado
2nd Lt John D. Hill, Co-Pilote, Houston, Texas
2nd Lt Thomas R. Dragonetti, Bombardier-Navigator, Brooklyn,NY
Tech Sgt Thaddeus H. Grace, Radio-Gunner, Montgomery, Alabama
Staff Sgt Gale F. Brown, Engineer, Warrenton, Missouri
Staff Sgt John F. La Plante, Tail Gunner, S. Woodstock, VT
Plot D Row 3 Grave 42 St Pol sur Termoise
---------------------------------------------------------
Report: Lt. Frank Bernzen. Hit by flak on turn off from target on first run. Fell away with badly smoking engine and fabric on left stabilizer almost all shot away. Pilot got plane back into formation for a second run on the target. On second run, it was again hit by flak and tail blown off and went down with a full bomb load. No survivors.
------------------------------------------------------------
Siblings: Pauline Bernzen Ridge (Merton), Mildred Bernzen Parks (William), Virginia Bernzen
Wife: Lucie Belle Glass Bernzen of Boulder, Colorado
==========================================================
Crewmen:
John D. Hill - Memorial # 55877544
Thomas R. Dragonetti - Memorial # 82648671
Thaddeus H. Grace - Memorial # 56645025
Gale F. Brown - Memorial # 56642703
John F. LaPlante - Memorial # 56646674
----------------------------------------------------------
Frank Bernzen, Jr. - Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. U.S. Army Air Forces Service # O-738335
-----------------------------------------------------------
We place this plaque here today to honor and keep alive the memory of 6 American crewmen of a B26 Marauder of the 9th Air Force 391st Bomb Group 573rd squadron who died on a combat mission to Pas de Calais on March 19-1944. Our brothers gave their lives during the European conflict so that we might be free. They came to rest here in Palfart, France and were interred in the churchyard of Eglise de I'Immaculee Conception.
In Memoriam
1st Lt Frank Bernzen Jr., Pilote, Boulder, Colorado
2nd Lt John D. Hill, Co-Pilote, Houston, Texas
2nd Lt Thomas R. Dragonetti, Bombardier-Navigator, Brooklyn,NY
Tech Sgt Thaddeus H. Grace, Radio-Gunner, Montgomery, Alabama
Staff Sgt Gale F. Brown, Engineer, Warrenton, Missouri
Staff Sgt John F. La Plante, Tail Gunner, S. Woodstock, VT
Plot D Row 3 Grave 42 St Pol sur Termoise
---------------------------------------------------------
Report: Lt. Frank Bernzen. Hit by flak on turn off from target on first run. Fell away with badly smoking engine and fabric on left stabilizer almost all shot away. Pilot got plane back into formation for a second run on the target. On second run, it was again hit by flak and tail blown off and went down with a full bomb load. No survivors.
------------------------------------------------------------
Siblings: Pauline Bernzen Ridge (Merton), Mildred Bernzen Parks (William), Virginia Bernzen
Wife: Lucie Belle Glass Bernzen of Boulder, Colorado
==========================================================
Crewmen:
John D. Hill - Memorial # 55877544
Thomas R. Dragonetti - Memorial # 82648671
Thaddeus H. Grace - Memorial # 56645025
Gale F. Brown - Memorial # 56642703
John F. LaPlante - Memorial # 56646674
----------------------------------------------------------
Frank Bernzen, Jr. - Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. U.S. Army Air Forces Service # O-738335
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Boulder, Colorado.
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