Sept 2 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 Memory Of:
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
----------------------------------------
Report: 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.
===============================
Crewmen:
John D. Hill - Memorial # 55877544
Thomas R. Dragonetti-Memorial # 82648671
Thaddeus H. Grace - Memorial # 56645025
Frank Bernzen Jr. - Memorial #56642327
John F. LaPlante - Memorial # 56646674
-----------------------------------------
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 Memory Of:
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
----------------------------------------
Report: 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.
===============================
Crewmen:
John D. Hill - Memorial # 55877544
Thomas R. Dragonetti-Memorial # 82648671
Thaddeus H. Grace - Memorial # 56645025
Frank Bernzen Jr. - Memorial #56642327
John F. LaPlante - Memorial # 56646674
-----------------------------------------
Sept 2 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 Memory Of:
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
----------------------------------------
Report: 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.
===============================
Crewmen:
John D. Hill - Memorial # 55877544
Thomas R. Dragonetti-Memorial # 82648671
Thaddeus H. Grace - Memorial # 56645025
Frank Bernzen Jr. - Memorial #56642327
John F. LaPlante - Memorial # 56646674
-----------------------------------------
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 Memory Of:
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
----------------------------------------
Report: 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.
===============================
Crewmen:
John D. Hill - Memorial # 55877544
Thomas R. Dragonetti-Memorial # 82648671
Thaddeus H. Grace - Memorial # 56645025
Frank Bernzen Jr. - Memorial #56642327
John F. LaPlante - Memorial # 56646674
-----------------------------------------
Inscription
SSGT 573 BOMB SQ 391 BOMB GP (M)
ILLINOIS MAR 19 1944
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Illinois.
