This memorial contains the names of 17 paratroopers from E Company of the 101st Airborne Division along with the five aircrew who perished when the aircraft crashed after being hit by anti-aircraft gun fire around the Sainte Mere Eglise area.
C47 number 42-93095 took off from Upottery Airfield in England at 23:12 hours on June 5, 1944, and was due to drop its stick of paratroopers over Drop Zone C when it was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in a field near to this memorial at 01:12 hours on June 6.
Reports of the crash said that the fire was so intense that no-one was able to get near the aircraft for several days. The paratroopers and aircrew were listed as Missing in Action until the crash site of the aircraft – C47 number 42-93095 was excavated in 1952 and the remains of the fallen were repatriated back the USA.
On board was Philadelphia-born First Lieutenant Thomas Meehan III who was the Commander of Easy Company. His death saw the leadership of Easy Company’s ‘Band of Brothers’ passed to Richard D Winters.