B-17G 44-8639, Craig Cwm Llwyd, Barmouth

Crew / Passengers	Rank - If Applicable	Position e.g. Pilot	Status
Howard R. Hibbard	1st Lieutenant	Pilot	Killed
Joseph C. Robinson	Captain	Co-pilot	Killed
Joseph A. Glover	Captain	Navigator	Killed
John Q. Montgomery	Master Sergeant	Engineer / Crew Chief	Killed
Max Marksheid	Technical Sergeant	Radio Operator	Killed
Santo A. Caruso	Staff Sergeant	Gunner	Killed
Kenneth W. Craumer	Technical Sergeant	Gunner	Killed
David I. Rapoport	Sergeant	Gunner	Killed
Lester A.F. Rhein	Technical Sergeant	Gunner	Killed
Robert E. Smith	Staff Sergeant	Gunner	Killed
Richard E. Higley	1st Lieutenant	Passenger	Killed
Teed O. Smith	Staff Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
Morris Lemewski	Technical Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
Paul Lucyk DFC	Technical Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
Edwin R. Birtwell	Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
Sheldon R. Coons	Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
Camille F. Devaney	Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
Boyd P. Dobbs	Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
John D. Leasure	Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
Calvert G. Pool	Corporal	Passenger	Killed

Following the end of conflict in Europe US Forces began to return home, some as their period of service came to an end and others in preparation for the expected attack on Japan. Most returned by sea but some USAAF personnel returned by air. This aircraft was one of many that were being flown back to the USA with those additional passengers. It was being flown from Polebrook in Northamptonshire to RAF Valley on Anglesey before the final leg back to the USA, on board was a crew of ten with another ten passengers. As with a number of other flights engaged in this operation it never left the British Isles.

While approaching Valley in low visibility the crew requested a course to steer and this was transmitted to them by Valley, however the aircraft flew on the reciprocal course which took it inland towards Dolgellau. After a short while the crew realised the error and began a turn to starboard to take them back out to sea. Before this turn was completed it struck high ground close to the summit of Craig Cwm Llwyd on the southern side of the Mawddach Estuary, it travelled approximately 300 feet along the crags before its last impact where the wreck broke up and was destroyed by fire.

In 1995 this plaque commemorating the 20 US servicemen was attached to the wall beside the footpath and track below the crash site by Matthew Rimmer of Dolgellau.

The crash site itself is marked by this scar on the hillside above the memorial.

Eleven of those killed were subsequently buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, below are photographs of nine of their graves.