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Memorial B-17 "Pluto's Avenger" Duffel
(Belgium - Antwerp - Duffel)
The memorial is located near the crossing of the Rechstraat with the Veleplas and commemorate the fallen crew members of the American B-17 "Pluto's Avenger" bomber which crashed on February 22 1944 near Duffel.
The text on the plaque on the right reads:
8th US Army Air Force
303rd Bomber Group
On Februari 22 1944 an American B-17 bomber crashed near this location
Here died for our freedom four brave men in the wreckage of the "Pluto's Avenger".
The text on the left plaque gives the names of the members of the Pluto's Avenger group:
2Lt Morrin - P
2Lt R. Sheehan - CP
2Lt E. Gill - N / Died
T/Sgt J. Beck - Eng
T/Sgt F. Cataldi - R
Sgt D. Houser - BTG / Died
Sgt R. DiStasi - WG / Died
Sgt E. Kannapel - RWG / Died
Sgt. C. Dodge, Jr - TG
Maj. G. Weinbrenner
Source
- Text:
- Rudi Rasker
- Photos:
- Rudi Rasker
Address and contactinformation
- Address:
- Rechtstraat
2570 Duffel - WWII grade:
- 100%
- Rating:
- 40%
Where is it?
Visitor reactions
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Reactions
- I was surprised to come across this. My uncle was Sgt. RobertDiStasi.
- By: BARBARA
- City: BRANDT
- Date and time: 06-10-2009 09:35:02
- Ranking: 5 out of 5 stars
- I know my father, the pilot of Pluto's Avenger, had no idea there was a monument in Duffel memorializing the crash of his plane on 2/22/44. Although I've researched his war career, I only discovered this today. Years ago I did talk with Major Weinbrenner about his experience of that day - he was flying as an observer and evaded capture, unlike my father who spent the next 15 months at Stalag Luft I. I was told that after he returned to the U.S. in 1945 he traveled to the families of each of his crew. I know the loss of these brave men troubled him for the rest of his life. He died in 1985, at age 70.
- By: James R. Morrin
- City: Chicago
- Date and time: 22-07-2009 16:59:32
- Ranking: 5 out of 5 stars
- I am so thrilled to see this memorial to a brave crew. Bob Di Stasi flew with my uncle, Lt. Bill Holcomb, at Bovingdon, England. I am particularly thrilled in that Bob Di Stasti's niece and name- sake nephew, Kathy Mastronardi and Bob DiStasi, have seen this memorial constructed in that they have been attempting to gather information about their Uncle Bobby for a number of years. This will offer much solace.
- By: John Taylor
- City: Jacksonville, Texas
- Date and time: 11-06-2009 20:10:14
- Ranking: 5 out of 5 stars
