Crash information JB 535 Kolhorn

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.

Plane crash Avro Lancaster Mk III JB535 OF-Q of 97 Squadron at Kolhorn

On Sunday 30 January 1944, this Lancaster took off from Bourn airport (England) at exactly 17.15h to Berlin as main target.

Fo the crew present this was the 6th mission in this composition. That night a total of 534 aircrafts took off, of which 21 Lancaster belonging to the 97 Squadron.

Two Lancasters, the JB535, never returned to base.

The jet fighter exploded at exactly 22.12 above Kolhorn, after it was shot to fire during a fierce firefight with a German night hunter. The pilot of this plane was Oberfeldwebel Heinz Vinke.

The moment of impact many locals from Kolhorn were in the streets because they had just visited a play of the local theatre association.

Miraculously nobody on the ground got hurt. The crew members on the other hand all lost their lives. Together with fragments of the plane they crashed in and around Kolhorn.

The crew

Ernest Sumner Clarke	Flight Lieutenant	Pilot	22 years old	UK
Richard Venville Thomas Bowerman	Sergeant	Flight engineer	18 years old	UK
Eric James Lovelace Carpenter	Flying Officer	Navigator	21 years old	UK
Norman Charles Law	Flying Officer	Bomb aimer	26 years old	AUS
George Ridley	Flying Sergeant	Radio operator	Age unknown	UK
Thomas Eric Charles	Flying Officer	Gunner	25 years old	AUS
Rodger Peryman Wishart	Flight Lieutenant	Gunner	23 years old	AUS

Name	Role
Mark Hakvoort	Chairman
Chris Dijkshoorn	Treasurer
Martin Blaauw	Secretary