Crash information 42-7924 Den Oever

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 a P-47D Thunderbolt and pilot Frank Gallion

Crash information

On November 3, 1943, 18 American P-47 Thunderbolt fighters took off from Halesworth air base (Essex) in England. Together with other fighters they had to protect a group of 566 American bombers against attacks by German fighters. The bombers had to bomb the shipyards and submarine bunkers in Wilhelmshaven.

After an air battle over the Wadden Sea and Hippolytushoef with German Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters, the American fighter crashed at approximately 12.30 pm on the Wieringer Vlaak in the IJsselmeer. The pilot Gallion was killed. The plane wreckage containing the pilot was found on October 21, 1993 and recovered on February 10, 1995. Gallion was returned to the USA and buried on May 27, 1996 at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Killbuck, Ohio.

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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