https://www.ksl.com/article/51...r-his-plane-crashed-

Quite the hero and story!

No kidding, I just got back from France last night after visiting the Normandy area, which is a bit Southwest of the crash site.

Thank you for posting this, BB61.

quote:

"He connected with a local reporter and several townspeople in Monchy-Cauyeux, who helped him search a nearby field. On July 8, 2018, they found the plane's wreckage."

I find it remarkable that any wreckage would still be around after 75 years and not cleaned up/disposed of decades ago. Makes you wonder how many of the other thousands of bombers shot down over Europe are still laying around with remains inside.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Makes you wonder how many of the other thousands of bombers shot down over Europe are still laying around with remains inside.

And possible unexploded ordnance (UXO).

If going down the bombardier would salvo the bombs to clear the bomb bay for an exit. When salvoed, the bombs arming wires were NOT pulled, meaning the fuzes did not activate and the falling bomb would simply burrow itself into the ground.

The French démineurs do crazy work collecting and destroying UXO from two world wars. Their estimate is they have another 200 years of work on Verdun, alone.

What a heartwarming story. Thanks for sharing.

Moving story.... Welcome Home......For 10 years I rode motorcycle escort with the "Patriot Guard Riders" preforming military escorts for welcome home returns and or departures for individuals or entire units..... My motorcycle displayed a 3 ft x 5 ft flag that waved PROUDLY.... Stood honor guard at the funeral homes / escorted to cemetary / honor guard at cemetary / pallbearer if needed........... One escort was for a Korean War POW who was later ID"d from a military cementary in Hawaii... Baton Rouge, La to Church Point, La.... 13 motorcycles left funeral home.. Along the route the number of motorcycles doubled / numerous fire trucks / ambulances / police cars joined the escort... The home town folks lined the city streets........................ Another Korean War POW ID"d from a military cemetary in Hawaii was attended by a surviving squad mate who hand been removed from the front line fighting to receive medical treatment.. the unit was attacked /got over run and all were either killed or captured....................... God bless our troops be they past / present / future........... drill sgt.

And it wasn’t happenstance that got him found but instead dogged determination.

^^^^
And love for his wife and her family. It was the SIL so to speak that did the initial legwork.

Great story, but I find it ridiculous that they had AI generated "Key Takeaways" for such a short uncomplicated story.

I'd love to be there for the funeral of this brave flier - his homecoming will be a huge occasion, as indeed it ought to be.

My own namesake, 2Lt Thomas A Foley, lost on 25th February 1945, lies somewhere off the coast of Norfolk, still in the remains of his B24 - 'Chris's Crate'.

Very very cool. I don’t know what else to say. The least we can do for these guys.