1944- Lussault Remember (France)

Memorial tour in Touraine on August 3, 2024

I am pleased to present to you the project which will see the light of day next August.

The subject :

         An American bomber, coming from Framlingham, England among 76 B 17 bombers to destroy the Tours airfield occupied by the Germans on August 1, 1944. The only plane of the formation to be shot down, the "Sequatchiee" second of the name ASN 33876 from 390th BG - 570th BS.

All the aviators parachute before the plane crashes on a farm. Among the 9 crew members:

. 4 were taken prisoner immediately and ended the war in camps in Germany (Second Lieutenant Charles ARNAO, navigator, Sergeant Robert McKNIGHT, radio operator/machine gunner, Corporal Stephen SIDEROFF, side machine gunner, Sergeant John CRADDOCK, tail gunner.

. 3, helped by patriots, found themselves in a dubious Lochois maquis before being liberated by American troops (Second Lieutenant Thomas WHITMORE, co-pilot, Chief Sergeant Rawlin O'LEARY, dorsal turret gunner/mechanic, Sergeant Donald JIRIK , machine gunner of the ventral turret.

.The last two (Second Lieutenant Anthony FORTE, pilot and Second Lieutenant Gregory COLLINS, bombardier, are hidden with a woman from Lussault sur Loire, denounced to the Militia and the Gestapo who, on the spot, murdered the two young aviators in a troglodytic cellar the night of August 3 to 4.

          The same night, three resistance fighters: Geneviève LORILLEUX, Robert GUERIN and Yvon LEBLOIS known as "Lieutenant Jean-Pierre", following the same denunciation, were arrested near Lussault in the process of hiding weapons from a recent parachute drop. Deported to Germany, they never returned from the Nazi camps.

         Following grandiose ceremonies in 1985, the erection of a monument followed by important ceremonies at the crash site in 2003, on Saturday August 3, 2024, a:

                          Memorial Route:

At 8:30 a.m. sharp, gathering and departure from Lussault, on the banks of the Loire in front of the church 17 km east of Tours towards Montlouis, along the Rd 751.

- 9 a.m.: Arrival in Montlouis, place "La Barre" via the Cooperative cellar roundabout to the foot of the monument before the turn on the left by the D 40. Ceremony in front of the 2003 monument on the crash site, explanatory text and wreath laying. Departure towards Lussault via the upper road Gc 40, (via Husseau)

-9:30 a.m. Lussault, 10 rue du village. Stop, ceremony, reading of text, laying of flowers, in front of the house where the two aviators were killed. Departure towards the cemetery by taking the Rd 751 towards Montlouis.

- 10 a.m. Along Rd 751: parking at the foot of the Lussault cemetery and walking up (except officials and people with reduced mobility). On site, unveiling of the renovated 1985 stele (original grave of the two aviators), ceremony, reading of text and wreath laying as well as on the adjoining grave (Madame Gripouilleau who housed the aviators) Departure from the cemetery via the Rd 751 towards Amboise. At the exit of Lussault, on the right, small road in the Coudre valley, follow the procession towards Le Châtelier.

-10:40 a.m. Stop and park 50 m from the private property of “Châtelier”, where the Resistance fighters were arrested. Ceremony, explanatory text, laying of flowers. Departure towards Rd 751 on the left towards Lussault, parking on this road in front of the church and the war memorial.

- 11:10 a.m.: At the Lussault war memorial, inauguration of a bilingual plaque recounting all the events of 1944. Franco-American ceremony, reading of text, laying of wreaths. Departure on foot towards the nearby municipal hall.

- 11:45 a.m.: In the Lussault village hall: thanks, visit to an exhibition on women in the resistance, an exhibition with mannequins and objects relating to American aviation during the Second World War, presentation of the Model of the B 17 with its original markings, presentation of the association that we have just created, announcement of the future book on the tragic episodes of 1944.

  Possible visit to the window/souvenirs from 1944 in the Town Hall, nearby.

  Invitation by the Municipality of Lussault and the 1944 association: Lussault is remembered at a reception at the exhibition site.

  Please note: from Wednesday July 1 to Sunday August 4 inclusive, the exhibitions will be open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

  All additional information (ceremonies, possibility of joining the association, future projects, future book etc. from:

  of the Treasurer, Jean-Pierre Martin -Mail: jpierre.martin@laposte.net

  -Tel 06 66 40 02 31

Facebook page of the association 1944 - Lussault remembers

Association email: 1944-lussaultsesouvient@laposte.net