Crash information P9286 Winkel

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.

Vickers Wellington Mk IC

The evening of 16 November 1940 at 20.15h, the Wellington bomber took off from Marham airport to target the city of Hamburg. On the way back to England, in the middle of the night the crew was completely surprised by a German hunting aircraft. The Wellington crashed at 02.05h. All crew members lost their lives.

The Wellington was taken down by the hunting aircraft of Oberleutnant Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld. This was the lieutenant’s first, successful operation. Before crashing in 1944 he had already taken down 51 other aircrafts.

Unveiling of the 6th Remembrance Post in Winkel

There was a lot of interest in the unveiling of the remembrance post P9286 in Winkel on 18 September.

The official ceremony was attended by, among others, the alderman and veterans of the Veterans Contactgroep Wieringen/Hollands Kroon and Veterans Schagen. NH Nieuws reported on this ceremony. More photos can be found on our photo page

Memorial to pilot Donald Ewart Larkman and his crew on April 19

On April 19, 2023, Stichting Herdenkingspalen Hollands Kroon had the honor of receiving relatives of one of the crew members of the Vickers Wellington Mk Ic P9286 KO-K of 115 Squadron that crashed near Winkel in the Groetpolder. The crew is buried in the General Cemetery at the Lucaskerk van Winkel.

Christine Townrow, her partner Arthur Brookes and his brother Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Brookes had come over from England. Christine's father was the cousin of pilot Donald Ewart Larkman. According to Christine, it was her father's favorite cousin because he was always so nice to him. Christine, Arthur and Edmund had come over by boat this morning to return to Cambridge the next day.

Christine and her travel group were not aware of the memorial service that would be held and were pleasantly surprised that Chris from our foundation had organized it. After the ceremony, Chris took them to the remembrance post and the crash site. This has done her very good. Christine later wrote via email: “I will certainly remember the day with such pleasure and gratitude!”. You can't get a better compliment as a foundation.

Mayor Rian van Dam was also present at the commemoration, who once again emphasized how important it is for Hollands Kroon to continue to commemorate these crew members.