Gradenc, plaque to American airmen flying B-17

American bomber aircraft B-17 named "Je reviens" (I will return) crashed on 9 March 1945 after suffering severe damage during an attack on Graz (Graz) in the Austrian Styria. The damaged aircraft managed to fly to Gradenc, where the crew bailed out and landed safely. With the help of partisans, the crew was able to return to Italy via the airport in the White Mountains. On Saturday, 11 March 2017, a commemorative ceremony was organized in Gradenc, at the site where the aircraft crashed. The ceremony took place under the patronage of President of the Republic of Slovenia Boruta Pahor and U.S. Ambassador Gregory Brent P. Hartley. The keynote speech was delivered by the Minister of Defense, Andreja Katič, and the event was followed via video link by the pilot of the aircraft, Edward F. Logan, author of the book "Jump, Damn You, Jump!". The placement of the permanent memorial was also attended by Mrs. Julijan Vidmar, who was present with her sister Marija as a witness to the aircraft's crash and the rescue of the crew. On her property, parts of the aircraft are preserved, which have been kept intact until today. The monument is represented by a large stone slab with an embedded metal commemorative plaque.

vir foto 1: zb-nob-nm.si/spomenik-gradenc

Spomenik padlemu bombniku B-17 »Je Reviens«. ZB NOV Žužemberk.

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