This is a facinating story and how good it is to see that it is not forgotten 64 years after the event.

You might also be interested in this monument I found on the island of Sicily during my research into the Husky

campaign there in 1943. I assume this had been a glider towing US C47, or it had been carrying paratroops?

Colin.

-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --

It could be either.

Did it crash after the Airborne troopers jumped?

Or was it a cargo plane delivering supplies?

It is a nice monument though.

I take it the top is a part of the wreck?

Erwin

The 15th Commemoration .... some photos.

First of all, the placing of flowers at Cpl. Sellers' grave.

Speech of the chairman of the "Vella Comité" Jean-Pierre Casteels.

He gave an overview of what has happened in those 15 years.

The Last Post.

Flowers being placed at the Glider Monument.

Jean-Pierre's niece reading a letter of thanks from the US Embassy.

The new infomation plate (the other one was destroyed by vandals).

Glider Monument.

Also present were 10 - 12 Jeeps from the "Spearhead" group and we had about 60 - 65 people attending.

Erwin

Yes Erwin it is a panel from the wreck of the C47. The monument is now in the grounds of a beautiful hotel and it

was raised and paid for by the owner as a tribute to those who were killed in freeing Sicily from German rule.

If anyone is in the area near Ragusa on Sicily, the staff at the Eremo de la Giubiliana are very helpful to visitors.

Colin.

<img src=" http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i308/Praetorian4AD/AfterNormandy-Vellaothers.jp g" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

This photo was taken when the 101st Airborne Signal Company returned to England from Normandy.

Back row, in the middle: Thomas F Vella.

Also not the GI wearing a German visor cap on the right.

 

Erwin

Edwin (Jeeper 704)

I saw your posting of the photo called AfterNormandy-Vellaothers.jpg concerning the story of the Glider Monument. The photo shows some of the members of the 101st Airborne Signal Co upon their return to England after Normandy. My late father was a member of that group. I attempted to zoom into the photo and look at one of the men in the group who closely resembles my dad, but because of the rather small file size, the clarity is not good enough to tell for sure. I know it has been about 4 years since this post, but do you have access to the original photo or have a larger version that I could view or get a copy of? I'm a new member to this forum so I believe you can contact me directly through it

Thanks,

Rich M.

Welcome to the forum Rich. Erwin will be delighted to talk with you. He's are regular current member.

You don't state your father's name. Could you please post. Thanks! I am good friends with George Koskimaki and he may recognize his name. I can also look his name up in George's books.

Thank you for your interest, Sir.

Every year, we hold a small commemoration so to make sure these men are not forgotten.

In the meantime I sent you a copy of that photo.

Hope it will help you identifying your father if he is in that photo.

Erwin

There are two different mentions of a Morgan in George's books, so let me know what his first name is, to see if he may be one of them. You never know...

In case you didn't see it on the friend's reply... my father's name was T-5 SGT. John (Jack) F. Morgan Jr. of the 101st Airborne Signal Co. And thanks for picking up on this!

There are two different mentions of a Morgan in George's books, so let me know what his first name is, to see if he may be one of them. You never know...

Dang, saw one entry and thought it was IT, because the first initial was J. Morgan, but it wound up being J. Herschel Morgan. Ah, so close...

But if you haven't read his three books, I highly recommend them.

D-Day with the Screaming Eagles

Hell's Highway

The Battered Bastards of Bastogne

All by George Koskimaki