I just got an email from the man in France who knows where the crash site of William Perkins is!
He has agreed to meet me on May 13 to show me!
This is fantastic news....
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Finding the spot of the Perkins Crash
I just found an old email that explains where Lt. William Perkins was shot down on June 13, 1944.
The email states:
"The exact names of the farms are between Le Pointu and Le Mesnil Rave along D 27 road. The plane was scattered along 600 yards."
I am still trying to contact the man who grew up in the near by village (Notre Dame de Cenilly) by email.
But this information may be enough to find the exact spot....I will have to research on google maps with this new information!!!
The email states:
"The exact names of the farms are between Le Pointu and Le Mesnil Rave along D 27 road. The plane was scattered along 600 yards."
I am still trying to contact the man who grew up in the near by village (Notre Dame de Cenilly) by email.
But this information may be enough to find the exact spot....I will have to research on google maps with this new information!!!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
DECLASSIFIED MEMO: PERKINS CRASHES (and present day maps)
Lt. Welden described what he saw.
Where Welden believed Perkins crashed.
Present day map showing the towns of St. Lo and Notre Dame de Cenilly.
A WWII memorial is in the center of town.
Friday, April 24, 2009
A few photos from Charles Simonson's 1997 Trip
Here are a few photos of Charles Simonson attending the dedication of the William Perkins Memorial Plaque in 1997. Charles is seen in the first photo, second from the left.
Website showing one of the places where I am hoping to visit in France
Take a look at this website...
One of the photos on the site shows a plaque that was placed at the bottom of a WWII memorial to honor Lt. William Perkins of the 354th Fighter Group for giving his life for the liberation of France.
This town(Notre-Dame-de-Cenilly) is where I am hoping to get to in May. I believe that there is wreckage of his plane still in the town somewhere. In 1997, Charles Simonson of the 356th Fighter Squadron attended the dedication of the memorial plaque and there were still photos of a wheel and metal from the plane.
I hope to get there to shoot some video of the town and the place nearby where Perkins was shot down.
I only have a few short weeks to do more research and to contact some people who may know more about this town...
I am very thankful Charles Simonson told us about this place when we met him!!!
One of the photos on the site shows a plaque that was placed at the bottom of a WWII memorial to honor Lt. William Perkins of the 354th Fighter Group for giving his life for the liberation of France.
This town(Notre-Dame-de-Cenilly) is where I am hoping to get to in May. I believe that there is wreckage of his plane still in the town somewhere. In 1997, Charles Simonson of the 356th Fighter Squadron attended the dedication of the memorial plaque and there were still photos of a wheel and metal from the plane.
I hope to get there to shoot some video of the town and the place nearby where Perkins was shot down.
I only have a few short weeks to do more research and to contact some people who may know more about this town...
I am very thankful Charles Simonson told us about this place when we met him!!!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Charles Simonson - 356th Fighter Squad Pilot
NEW VIDEO CLIP POSTED -
A FRENCH TV NEWS STORY FROM 1996 ----
Charles Simonson was shot down in August 1944
while flying for the 354th Fighter Group in WW2.
In 1996, he went back to place where he was shot down
and the French villagers pulled him from the wreckage.
This is a French newscast about his return to France.
(We do not currently have a translation)
We met Charles and did a new interview with him for
our up-coming documentary
"The Heroes of the 354th Fighter Group."
He gave us a copy of this video for use in the documentary.
A FRENCH TV NEWS STORY FROM 1996 ----
Charles Simonson was shot down in August 1944
while flying for the 354th Fighter Group in WW2.
In 1996, he went back to place where he was shot down
and the French villagers pulled him from the wreckage.
This is a French newscast about his return to France.
(We do not currently have a translation)
We met Charles and did a new interview with him for
our up-coming documentary
"The Heroes of the 354th Fighter Group."
He gave us a copy of this video for use in the documentary.
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