Dear All,
I am sure that most people are very aware of how good the Dutch population is in respecting and remembering those that gave their lives for the freedom of Europe all those years ago. Here is a little example of that respect.
About 7 years ago I came across a memorial near to my house here in Arnhem, and took some photographs…attached. Now that I have just moved back from the US I paid a return visit to this memorial not knowing quite what to expect. Had it been vandalized, had it been removed to make way for new houses or a bike path.
No. Far from it. In fact it is still in the same place and looking exactly the same as it was 7 years ago, except for two things.
Someone had very recently placed two bunches of fresh flowers on the memorial, just to ensure that these seven men, who paid the ultimate price, have not been forgotten.
I wanted to share this with you all and to ask if anyone has any information on the loss of this aircraft and crew. Where was it based, which squadron was it from, where was it going or where had it been??
I would love to know more.
I do not think the Dutch needs translating, I think it’s pretty self-explanatory.
QP
Note, I tried to correct the error in the title after posting but failed.
By: QuePee - 10th October 2013 at 10:15
Moggy,
Its tragic that they were so close to the end of their tour. A relation of my father was killed in a raid on Koln, on his 29th op and it was Christmas eve 1944 and also his 21st birthday His family never got over the loss.
QP
By: Moggy C - 9th October 2013 at 16:10
Many of them on Op 29, just one away from becoming tour expired.
Moggy
By: ericmunk - 9th October 2013 at 15:23
http://www.419squadronbewarethemoose.com/KB728.html
and
http://home.kpn.nl/witie/Elden%20bomber%20crash.htm
Both include pictures of the crew members.
By: GliderSpit - 9th October 2013 at 14:34
http://en.tracesofwar.com/article/20767/Memorial-Lancaster-KB728.htm
By: Moggy C - 9th October 2013 at 13:38
Sorry I was slow in correcting the heading. Sorted now.
KB728 took off from Middleton St George at 2308 on the 16th June 1944 for an operation to Sterkrade. The Lanc exploded following a combat with a night fighter and crashed at 0130 alongside the Huissensedijk, close to the Dutch Reform Church at Elden (Gelderland). All the crew were initally buried locally, and then later taken to the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
(Info from Chorley)
Moggy
By: QuePee - 9th October 2013 at 13:08
Many thanks to everyone for the info, your efforts are much appreciated.
I will pay a visit to the cemetery over the weekend and pay my respects.
Thanks again.
QP
By: ericmunk - 8th October 2013 at 21:50
That would likely be KB728 VR*V of 419 Sqn, missing over Sterkrade on 17 June 1944.
The records I have don’t generally record crew names, so I can’t link it directly. Given that many raids took off on one day and landed the next it is difficult to be certain without a crash time. No RCAF Lancasters are recorded lost on 18 June 44, and the two 405 Sqn Lancs that failed to return on 16 June were on a raid to Lens, rather further away.
That is correct. Dutch loss lists for the day say:
(number) T3810 (date) 17-jun-44 (LT) 0143 (town) Elden (aan de Middelweg) (gem. Elst) (aircraft) Lancaster X KB728 419 Sqdn F/O. D. Morrison
Graves:
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=3468432 (note spelling)
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=3468477
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=3468794
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=3468859
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=3469293
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=3469400
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=3469651
By: Derbyhaven - 8th October 2013 at 21:38
The 419 Squadron ORB confirms Adrian’s identification of the aircraft.
By: Lazy8 - 8th October 2013 at 20:20
That would likely be KB728 VR*V of 419 Sqn, missing over Sterkrade on 17 June 1944.
The records I have don’t generally record crew names, so I can’t link it directly. Given that many raids took off on one day and landed the next it is difficult to be certain without a crash time. No RCAF Lancasters are recorded lost on 18 June 44, and the two 405 Sqn Lancs that failed to return on 16 June were on a raid to Lens, rather further away.
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October 8, 2013 at 7:36 pm