the essential
In 1944, during the liberation of Toulouse, US Air Force Lieutenant Harold Gnesin died in a plane crash. 80 years later, his American family returns to the scene of the accident for a moving ceremony. Reporting.
Ruth Lesser’s eyes are clouded with tears. She has been holding back from crying for a while now. Despite the emotion, the American held on. After a long breath, she continues her speech without even letting out a sob. “My parents never told us about our uncle and his story,” she confides, looking at some of her family who support her. We are very moved to see that the entire city has preserved his memory.”
Ruth is not the only one to be moved by the spectacle. In front of her, more than two hundred people are also overcome with emotion. “Today, we pay tribute to a hero who sacrificed himself,” admits Jean-Pierre, his cheeks still damp.
An American delegation to Cornebarrieu
Yesterday, the town hall organized a ceremony in honor of Harold Morris Gnesin. This US Air Force lieutenant died more than eighty years ago in the crash of his B-17 plane during the liberation of Toulouse. “He died on June 25, 1944 during a perilous operation carried out by the Allied Forces aimed at bombing the Luftwaffe base at Francazal, the Blagnac airfield and fuel depots,” explains the mayor of Cornebarrieu, Alain Toppan. .
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With the help of several historians and the AéroCherche association, he wanted to document as much as possible the death of this lieutenant who sacrificed himself for a town he did not even know: “Harold Gnesin’s B-17G bomber is targeted by the German defense. One of its engines is damaged. Eight men parachuted and the plane crashed, without exploding, in Cornebarrieu,” continues the elected official.
Duty of memory
Eighty years after the sudden death of the American soldier, the descendants of Harold Gnesin wanted to pay tribute to him and organize an event at the site of the accident. “The primary wish was to perpetuate the memory among new generations, particularly the youngest members of their family,” shares Alain Toppan.
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Twelve members of the missing soldier’s family traveled from Philadelphia and Los Angeles to attend this moving ceremony. American soldiers were also present. “For us, it is important to also thank the town hall as well as all those who worked to ensure that the history of our great uncle was preserved,” expresses one of the great nephews of the Gnesin family in front of the inhabitants of the commune as well as various soldiers, veterans or elected officials who came in large numbers to participate in this event.
