Memorial

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Lt Robert C. Barnes attended the University of Houston in 1941 and 1943 and was employed at the First National Bank.

The airplane received a direct flak burst in engine #3 over the target, setting it on fire at 12:05 hrs. It started to dive, apparently in an attempt to extinguish the fire.

The flak burst seriously wounded the pilot and killed Lt Barnes.

Six parachutes were seen to leave the airplane in the vicinity of the target area, of which one was on fire. Most likely this was the parachute of Sgt William C. Murphy who didn't survive. These five men were taken prisoner.

The airplane crash lands in the forest opposite the wine castle of Genoelselderen.

According to the sayings of elderly local civilians, someone from the resistance was at the wreckage quite quickly and took two injured crew members with him to hide from the Germans. The crew members were hidden in a forest near Herderen. The two Americans were very scared and did not trust anyone. When the members of the resistance went to the hiding place in the evening, the two were no longer found. They probably left on their own initiative. both men returned to Allied lines.

There is currently a chapel that commemorates this crash. There are initiatives to place a full-fledged memorial there.