Memorial

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Raymond Poirier was a chauffeur before he enlisted in Utica, New york on 29 July 1942.

The plane was hit by flak in both outside engines and in the cockpit. The first who was hit was T/Sgt Raymond W. Poirier. He was hit in one of his legs. After he reported, Lt Elliot ordered S/Sgt Edward H. Matte to help Poirier. Poirier
answered that he was not hurt very badly, however he felt blood running against
his leg. In spite of the damage, the pilots could stay in formation, so Lt Staub could drop his bombs on the target as planned. Shortly after dropping the bombs the plane fell back and became a straggler out of the defence of the formation. They were noticed by a few ME-109's between Bremen and Groningen. The fighters
attacked from a 9 o'clock position. S/Sgt James C. Stiles had a very rough time. His gun failed and he informed S/Sgt Edward H. Matte about the enemies. Also the ball turret gunner S/Sgt Kenneth F. Mahood from Pennsylvania was
working very hard, afterwards showed out he has used all his ammo. Immediately the enemy fighter attacked from a 6 o'clock position and S/Sgt Lawrence M. Wise, the tail gunner from Texas had his rough time on 7,000 meters
height. The plane couldn't stand those attacks and was damaged all over.

Eight crew members survived and were taken prisoner, one man died of his wounds later. Only Sgt Poirier was killed in the crash itself.

Later they found the burned body of T/Sgt Raymond W. Poirier, who was first buried in Zuidhoek on 29 November 1943. After the war he was evacuated to Margraten and reburied on 14 February 1949 his body was reburied.