American airmen honored in Křimice

On Saturday, April 26, the citizens of Křimice and invited guests commemorated the American airmen shot down on April 25, 1945, and the thirty-eight citizens who died in World War I and World War II. Ten American airmen died near Křimice during the bombing of the Pilsen Škoda factory, which was the last major German arms factory in the final phase of the war. Almost 300 bombers took part in the raid at that time. Seven of them were shot down, four landed in the immediate vicinity of Pilsen, near Křimice and Vejprnice, and further near Čemín and Litice. A total of 22 American soldiers died at that time. The monument in Křimice, which was moved in the immediate vicinity of two other memorials in 2014, is dedicated to the airmen from two Boeing B-17 flying fortresses. The first bomber crashed into the meadows between Skvrňany and Křimice in the direction of Radčice after being hit by a German anti-aircraft gun, while the second fell near Vejprnice.