Holland honours 6 fallen airmen.

It will mean driving through the night starting from Feltwell.

Rather apt really.

Moggy

The primary school at
http://boa.bobob.info/Inhoudsopgave/Inhoudsopgave/de-Boarne.html is involved as well. They can be reached by email. 🙂

Well,

Commissie Monument Soarremoarre,

Address
J. Douwamastjitte 45,
postal code 8495 JA Aldeboarn, the Netherlands

is so far the only contact address I can find. No telephone number, no e-mail… :confused:

Bomber Command Losses supports that Lent contention (Or is maybe the source of it)

Stratofreighter, I am sure that is the case. I have just been checking distances and wondering if I can attend the ceremony.

Moggy

The local newspaper very likely does not own the copyright to the photo above.
And I seriously doubt whether the “Commissie Monument Soarremoarre” would object to you using their image.
The commission wants this crew to be remembered after all… 🙂

Thanks Moggy, its a very fitting tribute to some brave men.

According to this article they fell victim to Luftwaffe Ace Helmut Lent;

http://www.camdengazette.co.uk/camden-life/letters/relatives_of_wartime_airman_sought_1_587713?action=register

Thanks for that,

I’m hoping, if there is a copyright issue, that the holder will forgive the reposting of the crew image here as a tribute

Moggy

Some photos at
http://www.demidfrieslander.nl/fotoalbum/article190642.ece/akkrum_monument_soarremoarre_nabij_plek_neergestort_geallieerd_toestel

I don’t doubt that the memorial is for all six crew members. But the article linked to, being a New Zealand journal, only mentions the ‘locals’

On Monday, November 8, 2010 at 15:00, on Soarremoarre between Akkrum and Aldeboarn, a war memorial unveiled in memory of the six crew members from New Zealand and England during the Second World War in this place died.
.
On the night of 7 to 8 November 1941 was above Soarremoarre between Aldeboarn Akkrum and a New Zealand Wellington bomber shot down by a German night fighter airfield of Leeuwarden. When the crash came all six crew members were killed. Three young men from New Zealand and three from England.
.
The committee “Soarremoarre Monument”, the Ambassador of New Zealand willing to attend the onthulling.Ook behalf of the British embassy is an agent, mr. Heart of the RAF. The Foundation Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation family of all six crew members managed to trace. Around 25 relatives come over from New Zealand and England to attend the unveiling.

The basis for the creation of the monument was established in 2006 with the commemoration of the event by primary school pupils and Akkrum Aldeboarn. In the middle of the meadow, a temporary monument and lay flowers. There was an exhibition at the schools with photos, but also a part of the wreck and equipment of the Wellington X 9976.

The CBS Finne took the initiative to set up the ‘Monument Commission Soarremoarre. The committee consists of the management of both Boarnster primary schools, parents, members of the committee Utingeradiel May 4, an eyewitness and members of the SMAMF. Students from upper primary schools of Aldeboarn be involved in the commemoration. The schools will in future report to the monument commemorating the crash.

Mr Gerrit Haagsma Aldeboarn possession of an extensive private collection of material from the Second World War, including pieces from the Wellington X 9976. From November 8 is at his house on the No 2 Bordego a permanent exhibition of a memorial site set up.

Translated by Google Chrome from this site:- http://www.definne-aldeboarn.nl/1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=88

Moggy

There were six men killed in this crash. Three from New Sealand, two from England and one from Ireland. The 75 squadron Wellington had nr. X9976 .

They flew from my local base, Feltwell. This was the night of the disastrous raid that attempted to put nearly 200 aircraft over Berlin, but failed miserably with the loss of something like 38 aircraft and most of their crews; nearly a full 10% loss rate when including the minor ops.

The raid killed 11 people in Berlin.

Four Wellingtons from the base were lost that night, two from each Squadron. (57 & 75). Oddly one from each Squadron had a Sgt Gray aboard – the other being Sgt S D C Gray.

I am so pleased the crew are commemorated. The Dutch are so meticulous at honouring those who died trying to liberate them.

Moggy