Crash information 42-63969 IJsselmeer

During World War II more than 40 different bombers and jet fighters have crashed within de county borders of Hollands Kroon. The crashes were mostly on land, in the Ijssel lake and the Wadden sea.

Few crew members were arrested after using their parachute to reach the ground, others could flee with the help of the Resistance. However, the majority lost their lives and did not return home safely to their family and loved ones.

Photo of an American B-24 bomber

Crash information

On the morning of December 22, 1943, the bomber had taken off from Hardwick airfield in England. The American bombers targeted the marshalling yard of the German city of Osnabrück. On the way back, the formation of aircraft came under fire from German anti-aircraft guns (Flak) over the Netherlands, east of Staphorst. The formation broke up, after which those left behind were attacked several times by the German fighters. That day, 22 bombers were shot down between Osnabrück and the English coast. Including the B-24 bomber of pilot Hunt and his crew. The plane crashed in the northern part of the IJsselmeer at approximately 3 p.m.

All nine crew members were killed. In the following months, crew members washed up at various locations around the IJsselmeer. The tail gunner Bennet was found near the port of Oude Zeug. The co-pilot Congelli may also have washed ashore there. During the war the bodies were buried in the Middenmeer cemetery. After the war they were reburied in Margraten, Neuville-en-Condroz (B) or transferred to the United States.

De bemanning

Reports

Unveiling of the 22nd and 23rd remembrance post

Our 22nd and 23rd remembrance posts were unveiled on October 7. The guests were received in the Cultuurschuur in Wieringerwerf with coffee and a welcome word from Jan Wouts, chairman of the Historical Society Wieringermeer. Our chairman Mark Hakvoort welcomed everyone, a special welcome was given to Colonel Juris L. Jansons of the U.S. Air Force. The American representation had everything to do with the two unveilings of this day. All crew members commemorated today are American nationals. A total of 10 young heroes died in 1943 when their aircraft crashed in the IJsselmeer after fighting with the occupying forces. Mark Hakvoort emphasized once again in his speech that freedom cannot be taken for granted in this day and age, we owe our freedom today to these and many other heroes.

Today's first unveiling took place at De Oude Zeug. There, Mayor Rian van Dam addressed the visitors, performed the official unveiling of the remembrance post and laid a wreath on behalf of the Municipality of Hollands Kroon. Mark Hakvoort mentioned the names of the nine crew members of the B-24 bomber, all young men between 20 and 31 years old. Unfortunately, the age of tail gunner James W. Bennet is unknown. The veterans led by Dick Doornik were, as at all previous unveilings, well represented and added cachet to the ceremony. Dirk Bak blew on his trumpet The Last Post and the American national anthem.

The second unveiling of this day was in memory of the American pilot Frank Gallion who crashed his P-47D Thunderbolt into the IJsselmeer in 1943 and was killed. The remembrance post has been placed at the Dijkgat, the place where the occupying forces blew up the dike on April 17, 1945, flooding the recently drained Wieringermeerpolder again. Colonel Jansons of the American embassy addressed the visitors. In the short time that he has now been in the Netherlands, he said, in excellent Dutch, that he was surprised by the way in which the Dutch commemorate the Second World War and show gratitude and respect to the liberators. Colonel Jansons also brought a surprise, the original belt buckle of pilot Frank Gallion, beautifully framed. Jansons had the honor of officially unveiling the remembrance post and laying a wreath. The Wieringermeer Historical Society and the Municipality of Hollands Kroon also laid wreaths at this remembrance post. Dirk Bak played The Last Post and The Star-Spangled Banner in a truly excellent manner. With a minute of silence and the veterans present, this ceremony was also complete and impressive.

Colonel Jansons was taken by Mayor Rian van Dam and the board of our foundation to the Dijkgat afterwards, where details about this event can be read, but the knowledge of both the mayor and our board members also made it an informative end to this day.

Photos of the unveiling