The Memorial

The permanent memorial at Lavenham Airfield honours the aircrew of the USAAF 487th Bomb Group who gave their lives during 185 missions flown from Station 137 between May 1944 and April 1945. Their names are recorded here.

The 487th Bombardment Group lost 33 aircraft during their 185 missions from Station 137. This page records the names of those who gave their lives — men who flew from this Suffolk field and did not return.

The permanent memorial at Lavenham Airfield was established by Friends of Lavenham Airfield to honour the memory of the aircrew of the 487th Bomb Group who were killed in action between May 1944 and April 1945. The names inscribed on the memorial plaques are recorded here so that their sacrifice may be known to all who visit this site, wherever in the world they may be.

The 487th flew its first mission on 7 May 1944 and its last on 21 April 1945. In between, 185 sorties were mounted against targets across occupied France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and deep into Germany. The cost was considerable. Thirty-three aircraft were lost, along with the crews who flew them.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
— Laurence Binyon, For the Fallen, 1914

 

Names on the Memorial

The following 233 names are inscribed on the memorial plaques at Lavenham Airfield. 

Note: If you believe any name below contains an error, or if you have additional information about any of those commemorated, please contact FOLA. We are committed to ensuring the accuracy of this record.

 

NameRankPositionSquadronDate
Abbote, Frank G2/LtNavigator838Sunday, January 14, 1945
Allensworth, Harold OSgtGunner-Ball Turret838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Andrew, Benedict AS/SgtFlight Engineer836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Baganz, Reuben FS/SgtGunner-Ball Turret836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Baker, Robert SS/SgtArmorer gunner839Thursday, July 20, 1944
Ball, Ira L1/LtPilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Ballard, Bennie LSgtGunner-Waist836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Bamberg, Tony O1/LtAir Leader836Sunday, April 8, 1945
Barboza, Clemente MSgtGunner838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Barnett, James SF/ONavigator839Sunday, March 11, 1945
Becker, Cuno V1/LtCo-Pilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Bejian, John2/LtNavigator836Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Benoodt, George FSgtFlight Engineer839Sunday, December 31, 1944
Benson, Stanley JSgtGunner-Top Turret838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Berger, Robert MSgtGunner-Waist839Sunday, March 11, 1945
Boyd, Leslie LS/SgtFlight Engineer838Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Breiling, Robert CS/SgtRadio Operator839Thursday, September 28, 1944
Brotherton, Wayne CSgtSpot Jammer837Tuesday, February 20, 1945
Brown, Gerard FT/SgtRadio Operator839Friday, August 25, 1944
Brown, Rhodes LS/SgtGunner-Waist839Friday, August 25, 1944
Buck, Herman WS/SgtGunner836Sunday, July 2, 1944
Burres, Richard ESgtGunner-Tail838Monday, March 19, 1945
Bybee, Melvin GSgtTogglier836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Callaghan, Frank JT/SgtGunner-Tail836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Carmen, Earnest T2/LtCo-Pilot837Saturday, May 20, 1944
Castillo, Pete JT/SgtBombsight Mechanic836Thursday, July 20, 1944
Castle, Frederick WBrig. GenCo-Pilot/Air Leader836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Chatterton, Thomas C2/LtCo-Pilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Churm, Paul KSgtGunner838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Cochran, William JS/SgtRadio Operator838Saturday, August 5, 1944
Coe, Seymour ES/SgtGunner-Nose839Wednesday, June 7, 1944
Conery, John JS/SgtGunner-Waist836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Conwill, Joseph D1/LtPilot837Wednesday, March 15, 1944
Crosland, William SF/OCo-Pilot839Sunday, March 11, 1945
Crossley, Charles HS/SgtFlight Engineer836Friday, June 23, 1944
Curtiss, Willard J1/LtPilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
de Lachica, Eduardo DS/SgtGunner-Tail836Tuesday, April 10, 1945
Deelaney, Grady ESgtGunner-Ball Turret838Saturday, August 5, 1944
Dolan, James J2/LtBombardier839Friday, August 25, 1944
Donnelly, Robert JSgtGunner-Tail838Monday, May 29, 1944
Dunham, Hiram DS/SgtGunner-Ball Turret837Tuesday, February 20, 1945
Dustman, Darell MS/SgtFlight Engineer837Saturday, May 20, 1944
Eberhart, John DT/SgtRadio Operator836Thursday, November 30, 1944
Erwin, Arthur D2/LtPilot838Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Eshleman, Oscar F2/LtCo-Pilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Estright, Alfred TSgtFlight Engineer838Monday, May 29, 1944
Everett, Lloyd ES/SgtGunner-Ball Turret839Friday, August 25, 1944
Faria, William R2/LtBombardier836Thursday, November 9, 1944
Ferenchak, George JS/SgtRadio Operator836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Focht, William JS/SgtGunner-Waist836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Frey, Arthur CSgtGunner838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Friedman, Ely N2/LtNavigator839Friday, August 25, 1944
Furr, Wilburn E2/LtCo-Pilot836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Gatlin, Claude E2/LtPilot836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Gaudin, Duffy JS/SgtGunner-Ball Turret836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Gerland, Henry E1/LtCo-Pilot836Thursday, November 30, 1944
Giltinan, Stephen VSgtGunner-Tail839Saturday, January 20, 1945
Glenn, James RSgtGunner-Ball Turret836Friday, June 23, 1944
Goethe, Everitt F2/LtPilot837Saturday, May 20, 1944
Graves, Hudie ES/SgtGunner-Ball Turret836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Green, Willard AS/SgtGunner-Tail836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Gregory, Jefferson GS/SgtGunner-Tail836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Gregory, Jesse E2/LtBombardier838Saturday, August 5, 1944
Gross, Norman E2/LtPilot838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Haglund, John LSgtGunner-Waist838Saturday, August 5, 1944
Hall, Robert TCaptainPilot838Thursday, January 18, 1945
Harcq, Benjamin WS/SgtGunner-Tail836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Harriman, Robert W1/LtPilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Haskell, Willard D2/LtCo-Pilot838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Haulotte, Gene WSgtRadio Operator838Sunday, January 14, 1945
Heil, Charles A2/LtNavigator836Thursday, July 20, 1944
Henahan, Joseph WT/SgtFlight Engineer839Friday, August 25, 1944
Henderson, James VT/SgtFlight Engineer837Tuesday, April 10, 1945
Hinkson, Harry MSgtGunner-Tail838Saturday, August 5, 1944
Hood, James T2/LtCo-Pilot839Friday, August 25, 1944
Huck, Donald RSgtRadio Operator838Sunday, December 24, 1944
Huebel, Benjamin AS/SgtFlight Engineer838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Hunter, Stephen S2/LtCo-Pilot838Sunday, January 14, 1945
Isaacson, Joyal L2/LtCo-Pilot838Monday, July 17, 1944
Jackson, Raymond F1/LtPilot836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Johnson, William TS/SgtRadio Operator836Sunday, July 2, 1944
Jones, Jason WS/SgtChief operations clerk837Saturday, June 10, 1944
Jones, Richard LCaptainNavigator839Friday, August 25, 1944
Jones, William ESgtGunner838Monday, May 29, 1944
Kane, Stephen PSgtGunner-Tail836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Kausrud, Donald CS/SgtGunner-Tail838Sunday, December 24, 1944
Kersten, Lloyd W1/LtPilot836Thursday, November 30, 1944
King, Donald C1/LtNavigator839Thursday, July 20, 1944
King, Robert HSgtFlight Engineer836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Knapp, Dale LSgtGunner-Tail838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Kochczynski, Clement J1/LtPilot838Sunday, January 14, 1945
Koepsell, Elmer ESgtGunner-Waist838Monday, March 19, 1945
Kowalski, Edwin MSgtGunner-Waist836Tuesday, April 10, 1945
Kramer, Victor S2/LtNavigator838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Kraus, Leslie ES/SgtRadio Operator836Friday, June 23, 1944
Kussy, Leroy SSgtGunner-Top Turret838Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Lang, Kenneth W2/LtPilot838Sunday, December 24, 1944
Late, Carl LT/SgtFlight Engineer838Saturday, August 5, 1944
Lauraine, Loye J1/LtPilot837Saturday, November 25, 1944
Leonesio, John B2/LtNavigator836Thursday, November 9, 1944
Levine, MiltonF/OBombardier838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Lipskas, Bronis DS/SgtGunner838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Logan, James A1/LtPilot836Sunday, July 2, 1944
Loranger, George O2/LtPilot837Saturday, June 10, 1944
Lull, Robert HT/SgtRadio Operator836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Lumpkin, Claude LS/SgtGunner-Nose838Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Mackie, Thomas S2/LtBombardier838Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Marino, Leonard AT/SgtFlight Engineer837Sunday, March 18, 1945
Markowitz, Max IS/SgtRadio Operator838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Marxmiller, Robert KS/SgtGunner-Ball Turret839Wednesday, June 7, 1944
Mass, Rubie R2/LtCo-Pilot838Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Matika, Bruno2/LtCo-Pilot836Sunday, July 2, 1944
Mau, Eldon AS/SgtGunner-Ball Turret839Sunday, March 11, 1945
McCleary, Lorin D2/LtPilot838Thursday, May 11, 1944
McClendon, William JT/SgtFlight Engineer839Sunday, December 24, 1944
McCoy, Ernest E2/LtCo-Pilot838Thursday, May 11, 1944
McGinnes, Lawrence H1/LtPilot837Tuesday, April 10, 1945
McKee, EugeneS/SgtRadio Operator838Thursday, May 11, 1944
McNeish, Cecil C2/LtNavigator837Thursday, March 15, 1945
McWilliams, Charles ASgtGunner-Nose838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Messerly, Julian WSgtGunner838Tuesday, May 30, 1944
Miller, Henry J1/LtNavigator836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Miller, Howard R2/LtCo-Pilot838Sunday, December 24, 1944
Miller, Joseph MS/SgtGunner-Waist836Thursday, November 30, 1944
Milliken, WilliamSgtGround Crew839Thursday, July 20, 1944
Milner, Leon R2/LtPilot836Sunday, April 8, 1945
Mitchell, Bruce RSgtRadio Operator836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Mitchell, Robert ET/SgtRadio Operator837Tuesday, February 20, 1945
Moderski, Jerome D1/LtNav-Bombardier837Thursday, March 15, 1945
Moentenich, Louis P2/LtNavigator837Saturday, May 20, 1944
Moke, Francis E2/LtNavigator838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Morrison, Everett SS/SgtGunner-Ball Turret836Thursday, November 30, 1944
Murphy, William JS/SgtGunner-Waist838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Musser, Elmer GS/SgtGunner838Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Nance, Clifford PT/SgtRadio Operator838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Nash, Lloyd WMajorPilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Nash, Robert AS/SgtGunner-Waist839Sunday, December 24, 1944
Nassi, Albert PSgtRadio Operator838Monday, July 17, 1944
Naughton, James PS/SgtGunner-Tail836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Nelson, Laverne WS/SgtFlight Engineer836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Nyhagen, Floyd C1/LtCo-Pilot838Sunday, January 14, 1945
Oesch, Harold E1/LtPilot836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Oliver, Clyde E1/LtCo-Pilot839Tuesday, April 10, 1945
Olsen, August MT/SgtRadio Operator839Wednesday, June 7, 1944
Olsen, Gunnar KF/ONavigator838Monday, March 19, 1945
Owen, Charles VSgtGunner-Nose839Sunday, March 11, 1945
Ozbolt, David L1/LtPilot839Thursday, July 20, 1944
Parks, Warren HT/SgtGunner-Top Turret836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Peake, Willis E1/LtBombardier839Tuesday, April 10, 1945
Pearce, Thomas W1/LtBombardier838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Pellizzer, LouisS/SgtGunner836Sunday, July 2, 1944
Pendarvis, George HF/OCo-Pilot838Monday, March 19, 1945
Perry, Joseph D2/LtBombardier838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Pierson, Robert ESgtGunner-Nose838Monday, May 29, 1944
Plevak, Edward C2/LtNavigator836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Portsch, Robert H2/LtPilot836Wednesday, March 14, 1945
Preston, Walter H2/LtPilot838Tuesday, September 12, 1944
Procopio, Bruno S1/LtMickey operator836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Raffel, William PS/SgtGunner-Waist837Tuesday, February 20, 1945
Ramseur, Richard MSgtRadio Operator836Saturday, December 30, 1944
Randall, Clarence WS/SgtFlight Engineer837Thursday, March 15, 1945
Reichel, Edward2/LtBombardier837Sunday, August 6, 1944
Reid, Stewart F1/LtNav-Bombardier838Sunday, January 14, 1945
Robinson, Richard SS/SgtRadio Operator838Monday, May 29, 1944
Rodgers, Gilbert ESgtGunner-Ball Turret838Monday, May 29, 1944
Rogers, WillieS/SgtGunner-Ball Turret836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Rogers, Winston SCaptainPilot839Friday, August 25, 1944
Rosenberger, Jearold FS/SgtRadio Operator838Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Rowe, Claude L1/LtCo-Pilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Rupe, Bradford ASgtGunner-Nose836Friday, June 23, 1944
Sala, David WSgtGunner-Ball Turret838Monday, March 19, 1945
Saporito, Salvatore AS/SgtRadio Operator836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Schmulewitz, Morris2/LtMickey Operator839Sunday, December 24, 1944
Schramm, Elmer J2/LtBombardier836Sunday, April 8, 1945
Schulz, William JS/SgtRadio Operator836Tuesday, April 3, 1945
Seavert, Douglas ES/SgtRadio Operator836Wednesday, March 14, 1945
Seeger, Roy ESgtFlight Engineer838Sunday, January 14, 1945
Shackleford, James LSgtGunner-Nose837Saturday, May 20, 1944
Shegal, Arnold RT/SgtFlight Engineer836Thursday, November 30, 1944
Sherman, Edward H2/LtNavigator836Sunday, April 8, 1945
Sherman, William LS/SgtGunner-Waist839Thursday, July 20, 1944
Sherrill, Theodore I2/LtCo-Pilot836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Shuster, Joseph SF/ONavigator836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Simac, AdolphSgtGunner-Tail839Sunday, March 11, 1945
Simoni, WalterT/SgtFlight Engineer838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Slusarczyk, Stanley A2/LtBombardier838Monday, May 29, 1944
Smathers, Harold EF/ONavigator836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Smith, Cecil J2/LtBombardier839Wednesday, June 7, 1944
Smith, Lynn G1/LtPilot837Friday, September 22, 1944
Smoke, Daniel C2/LtPilot838Monday, March 19, 1945
Snead, John ET/SgtFlight Engineer836Friday, June 23, 1944
Spindler, William HSgtGunner-Tail836Friday, June 23, 1944
Stanley, Martin ES/SgtRadio Operator836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Stanton, Warren JT/SgtFlight Engineer836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Stanton, Willard WS/SgtFlight Engineer839Sunday, March 11, 1945
Steffens, Eugene F2/LtCo-Pilot838Saturday, August 5, 1944
Stone, Harold JSgtRadio Operator838Monday, March 19, 1945
Strong, John H2/LtBombardier838Monday, March 19, 1945
Stults, Paul M1/LtPilot836Thursday, July 20, 1944
Sugarman, Joseph M1/LtPilot839Sunday, March 11, 1945
Sullivan, Maurice JS/SgtGunner-Tail836Thursday, November 30, 1944
Sunberg, John LT/SgtRadio Operator837Sunday, March 18, 1945
Swain, Lawrence HT/SgtRadio Operator836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Swan, Clement EF/OCo-Pilot836Sunday, April 8, 1945
Swiridow, Louis2/LtNavigator839Wednesday, June 7, 1944
Thies, Merle J2/LtCo-Pilot836Friday, June 23, 1944
Thomas, Eldridge W2/LtCo-Pilot836Thursday, July 20, 1944
Thoroman, Gordon PT/SgtRadio Operator839Sunday, December 24, 1944
Tollett, EltonS/SgtGunner-Ball Turret838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Tomea, Gordon R1/LtCo-Pilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Turnquist, Howard A1/LtPilot836Sunday, December 24, 1944
Uber, Frank J2/LtCo-Pilot836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Underwood, Allan B2/LtNavigator838Saturday, August 5, 1944
Van Dyke, Joseph S2/LtPilot836Friday, June 23, 1944
Van Kirk, Norman C2/LtCo-Pilot839Wednesday, June 7, 1944
Vassallo, Carmelo FT/SgtRadio Operator839Saturday, August 5, 1944
Volavka, MeloS/SgtFlight Engineer836Saturday, September 30, 1944
Vukomanovich, NedSgtGunner-Waist837Saturday, May 20, 1944
Walker, Clarence ES/SgtFlight Engineer839Wednesday, June 7, 1944
Walters, Lester R2/LtBombardier836Thursday, July 20, 1944
Wasson, Robert L2/LtCo-Pilot838Monday, May 29, 1944
Weiss, Lester1/LtNavigator838Thursday, May 11, 1944
Westhoff, Henry BS/SgtGunner-Tail838Tuesday, June 6, 1944
White, JohnSgtFlight Engineer838Monday, March 19, 1945
Whyte, Thomas CF/ONavigator837Tuesday, February 20, 1945
Willis, Joseph P2/LtPilot838Monday, May 29, 1944
Wilson, Max WS/SgtGunner836Sunday, July 2, 1944
Winton, Vernon P2/LtCo-Pilot837Tuesday, February 6, 1945
Wright, George TSgtGunner-Ball Turret836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Yaegle, Clyde LS/SgtGunner-Waist839Sunday, March 11, 1945
Young, Robert ESgtGunner-Waist836Saturday, February 3, 1945
Zaiger, Roy JSgtGunner-Waist836Sunday, December 31, 1944
Zebora, Rudolph J2/LtBombardier836Friday, June 23, 1944
Names and details courtesy of 487th Bomb Group Association.

Visiting the Memorial

The memorial is located on the airfield at Lavenham and is accessible to the public at weekends and on public holidays between 7am and 7pm. For details of how to find the memorial, including parking and access information, please see our Visiting the Memorial page.

Each year on the Sunday prior to Memorial Day FOLA holds a commemoration service at the memorial. The service is open to all who wish to attend. Details are on our Events Calendar.

Photo courtesy of Chris Arthey via FOLA Facebook page.

A Note on This Record

The names and details on this page have been copied from the 487th Bomb Goup Asociation., but also appear on plaques on the memorial itself and are compiled from official USAAF records. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy.

If you are a family member of someone who served with the 487th, or if you have information that could help us correct or expand this record, please get in touch. We take the accuracy of this memorial very seriously and would welcome your contribution.