Crash information W4769 Wieringerwerf

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.

Crash AVRO Lancaster MKI W4769 QR-V of 61 Squadron

Oostermiddenmeerweg - Zuiderkwelweg - Wagenpad near Wieringerwerf

In the Sunday evening of 3 January 1943, English Lancaster bomber took off from Seyerston airport on its way to Kruppfabrieken in Essen. The crewmembers were led by the young but experienced pilot Harry Bird.

This dark night pilot Bird and his crew members flew together with 3 Mosquito and 19 Lancaster bombers to Germany. The Lancaster did not return that night, but it exploded high in the sky at 19.40h. To this day the cause of the explosion is unknown. All crewmembers died. They are buried at the Military Honour cemetery in Huisduinen. After the war they are reburied at the British Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery near Bergen op Zoom.

The crew

Harry Raymond Bird	Pilot Officer	Pilot	21 years old	UK
John Davis	Sergeant	Flight engineer	23 years old	UK
Harold John Robert Tickle	Flying Officer	Navigator	20 years old	UK
George Leslie Inglis	Sergeant	Bomb aimer	26 years old	UK
Robert James Kee	Warrant Officer II	Radio officer	21 years old	CAN
Ronald Clifford Gait	Sergeant	Gunner	21 years old	UK
Leslie George Gunning	Sergeant	Gunner	19 years old	UK

Name	Role
Mark Hakvoort	Chairman
Chris Dijkshoorn	Treasurer
Martin Blaauw	Secretary