Luchtoorlog NL 1943

02-03-1943 Stirling Mk1 EF347/LS-T 15sq RAF Schillaard/Mantgum NL
It exploded in the air and crashed during a bombing raid of Berlin near Schillaard and Mantgum, NL in the night at 00:58h after it was shot down by night fighter from Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden. Sadly the whole crew died. The picture shows a German soldier who stands guard over a piece of wreckage. This picture (owned by the Fries Verzetsmuseum) was photographed by me during the exhibition at the Fries Museum, May 3rd, 2025.More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T2082.
13-05-1943 Lancaster MkI W4762/VN-H 50sq RAF IJsselmeer-Nijkerk NL
This Lancaster was shot down by a Night Fighter of 12./NJG1 on its way back at 01:38h during a night-bombing mission to Duisburg. It crashed into lake IJsselmeer 6 km NW of Nijkerk, NL. Sadly nobody survived. The picture (part of my private collection) shows a picture of one of the crew members Sgt Greening. On the back of the picture had been written “Sgt J. Greening, born 4 June 1921, gave his life for his country, May 11.12 1943.” Strange to see the incorrect date in May 1943. More information about this incident can be found on the SGLO website here: T2287.
14-05-1943 Lancaster MkIII W4944/DX-X 57sq RAF Neuringe NL
This Lancaster crashed near Neuringe, NL during a night bombing mission at 03:44h. The aircraft was on a mission to Pilsen, Czech Republic and was shot down by a nightfighter on its way back to the UK. Pictures below were found on the nice exhibition by SLO Drenthe at Schoonebeek on May 5th, 2025. (left by Kurt Schönfeld and right by Celina Keute). More information can be found on the wonderful SLO Drenthe website here.
24-05-1943 Lancaster MkIII ED970/DX-H 57sq RCAF North Sea NL
This Lancaster crashed into North Sea 40 km W. of Egmond aan Zee, NL, in the night at 02:01h. The picture shows, aside his medals, the agenda from Harry Kleiner (31), one of the crew members who died in the crash. It showed his plans for the next weeks. (exhibition Fries Museum, May 3rd, 2025). The aircraft was on a bombing mission to Dortmund, Germany, and shot down by a night fighter Bf 110 from Fliegerhorst Bergen. More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T2359.
24-05-1943 Lancaster MkIII W4984/AR-J 460sq RAF Oud-Schoonebeek NL
It crashed near Oud-Schoonebeek, NL. During a night bombing mission with target Dortmund, Germany, it was shot down by a German Nightfighter on its returnflight to the UK. The Lancaster burst into flames and the crewmembers except the pilot jumped out the aircraft with their parachutes. Sadly the parachutes were already damaged by the fire and only one of the six jumping crewmembers (Clarence K.D. Goldthorpe) survived and was arrested and became prisoner. The pilot lost control of the aircraft and crashed with the aircraft not far from Oud-Schoonebeek. All 6 died crewmembers were buried at the cemetery at Schoonebeek. The pictures below were found during a nice exhibition by SLO Drenthe at Schoonebeek on May 5th, 2025 (SLO Drenthe collection / NOID). They show parts found on the crash location and a picture of the wreckage and also a nice picture taken in the UK of the crew in front of their aircraft. Below also pictures of the graves of the crew at the cemetery in Schoonebeek, taken by me on May 5th, 2025.More information can be found on the interesting SLO Drenthe website here and also on the SGLO website here: T2361.
28-05-1943 Lancaster MkIII ED821/HW-A 100sq RAF Witmarsum NL
It crashed in a field 1.5km NE of Witmarsum, NL in the night at 01:45h. It was on a mission to bomb Essen in Germany when it was shot down by a Bf-110 Nightflighter from Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden. One of the crew members, the 23 years old Leonard Townrow from New Zealand, survived also but he broke his lower back, leaving his lower body paralyzed. On April 24th, 1944 he died from complications in the Bonifatius hospital in Leeuwarden. The picture, which I took, shows his bracelet when it was displayed at the exhibition in the Fries Museum, May 3rd, 2025.. More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T2390.
13-6-1943 Lancaster MkIII ED603/OL-L 83sq RAF IJsselmeer, nr Breezanddijk NL
This Lancaster crashed into the IJsselmeer, South of de Breezanddijk, NL at 02:11h in the night. In 2016 some divers found the wreckage of the aircraft. In 2023 this wreck was selected by the Nationaal Programma Berging Vliegtuigwrakken. Four missing crew members were found and could be buried as well. The picture, taken by me during the exhibition inside the Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, May 3d, 2025, show one of the wheels recovered in 2023 and owned by the Ministry of Defense. The side-drawing was created by Andy Hay (Flyingart). More information can be found on the website of the Stichting Aircraft Recovery Group 1940-1945 here , the website of Aircrew Remembered here and on the SGLO website here: T2451.
26-06-1943 Wellington MkIII HE346/AS-M 166sq RAF Zeedijk, Holwerd NL
Crashed in the night at 02:41h near Holwerd at the Zeedijk during a bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. It was shot down by a Bf 110 night fighter from Fliegerhorst Bergen. It had drilled deep into the mud near the Waddenzee dike. The next morning, all that can be seen is a large hole filled with water. It was recovered in 2024 thanks to the Programma Berging Vliegtuigwrakken. The pictures show a RAF H type dinghy (survival boat), one of the engines, a machine gun and other parts found at the crash site. (Ministry of Defense, Fries Museum exhibition, May 3rd, 2025). More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T2607.
16-07-1943 ME-109 G-6 15481/Gelbe3 9./JG1 Luftwaffe Noarderleech, Hallum. NL
Crashed into the Noarderleech, near Hallum. It came from Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden. Official stated: “Bodenberührung und Aufschlagbrand bei Übungs-Bombenwurf”. The pictures show the tail wheel and machine gun of the Messerschmitt which were recovered in 2024. (Ministry of Defense, part of the exhibition in the Fries Museum, May 3rd, 2025, Harry Prins). More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T2668.
28-07-1943 FW-190 A-6 530135/Weisse12 1./JG1 Luftwaffe Drachten NL
It was shot down by enemy aircraft. The pilot made a successful emergency crash lading on the edge of a swimming pool in Drachten, NL. The pilot got slightly wounded and aircraft could possibly be repaired after recovery. Pictures were taken at the exhibition in the Fries Museum, May 3rd, 2025. More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T2731.
08-10-1943 B-17F 42-30818/LN-S 100BG350BS USAAF Wijnjeterp NL
This B-17 “Ruthless” (or “Salvo Sal”?) made an emergency landing on the heatharea near de Postweg at Wijnjeterp, NL. These braces and cap-batch were hidden in a haystack at a farm. They belonged to airman W.F. Marcollo. During the emergency landing, pilot Les Amundson narrowly avoids hitting a farm and saved the whole crew. I took these pictures at the exhibition in the Fries Museum, 3 May 2025. (Collection Fries Verzetsmuseum, donated by W. Hazenberg). The painting was made by Ab Jansen. More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T2934.
20-10-1943 Lancaster MkIII ED555/HW-A 100sq RAF Eelderwolde NL
This Lancaster was shot down by a Night fighter of 11./NJG1  and crashed along Terborghlaan at Eelderwolde near Groningen. The whole crew died and were burried at the cemetery of Eelde. Picture below were taken by me during the WOII memory ceremony at Eelderwolde on May 4th, 2023. More information about this incident can be found on the SLO Drenthe website here and also at the SGLO website here: T2997.
03-11-1943 P-38H 42-66732/CL-? 55FG/338FS USAAF Schoonebeek and Twist NL
This crashed 12:59h near Schoonebeek and Twist at the border between Germany and Holland. It was shot down by a Bf 109. The pilot could bail out in time. The pictures below showing the pilot W.C. Florentine with his P-38 Lightning, and the burning wreckage after the crash, were found at the nice exhibition by SLO Drenthe at Schoonebeek on May 5th 2025. (Pictures – SLO Drenthe collection).  More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T3089.
18-11-1943 Lancaster MkIII LM370/SR-K2 101sq RAF Oud-Schoonebeek NL
This Lancaster crashed near Oud-Schoonebeek and Schoonebeekersveld, NL. This “Pathfinder” Lancaster was on a night pathfinder mission to Berlin and when it flew back to the UK it was shot down by a German JU-88 nightfighter near Oud-Schoonebeek at 23:12h in the evening. The aircraft was completely destroyed and parts of the crashed aircraft were found over a large area. Sadly all 8 crewmembers died. They were buried at the cemetery at Schoonebeek. The pictures below were taken at a nice exhibition by SLO Drenthe in Schoonebeek, May 5th, 2025. (All collection SLO Drenthe). Below also pictures of the graves of the crew at the cemetery in Schoonebeek, taken by me on May 5th, 2025. More information about this incident can be found on the website of the Stichting Aircraft Recovery Group 1940-1945 here , the website of Aircrew Remembered here and on the SGLO website here: T3103.
11-12-1943 ME-109 G-6 410298/Weisse6 4./JG27 Luftwaffe Nijtap NL
This Messerschmitt was shot down by a B-17 (42-3488) gunner during an air-to-air interception. It crashed into a butcher’s shop in Nijtap, NL. It pierced through the house and then even through the concrete floor. The butcher and the pilot were killed instantly. The plane and the house were completely destroyed. The violence of the crash can still be read from the broken, solid metal propeller. The left picture shows the ring worn by the pilot of which the stone is missing. (both attributes are property of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation). The photos were taken during the exhibition in the Fries Museum, May 3, 2025. The pilot was identified in 2023. More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T3203.
11-12-1943 B-17F 42-30218/OE-W 95BG335BS USAAF Ferwerd, Zeedijk NL
This B-17 with nickname “Heavily Daze” was shot down while on a bombing raid to Emden, Germany, by a Bf 109G from Fliegerhorst Oldenburg. It crashed near Ferwerd, NL. Below is a picture taken by me at the exhibition in the Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, May 3rd, 2025 showing the boots of one of the surviving crew members. More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T3192.
11-12-1943 B-17F 42-3488/GX-L 385BG548BS USAAF Offingawier NL
This B-17 with nickname “Weidners Wildcat” was shot down by enemy aircraft after already have been severly hit by FLAK nearby Emden (bombing target) . It crashed into a field, near Offingawier, The photos (taken at the exhibition, Fries Museum, May 3rd, 2025, show a section of the fuel tank from this B-17 showing that the sealant has stopped a hole due to a bullet penetration. (Part of the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation – collection). More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T3194.
16-12-1943 Lancaster MkII DS831/QO-N 432sq RAF Weidum, Wijtgaard NL
Crashed near Nij Barrahûs (Weidum and Wijtgaard), NL. It was shot down, while on its way to target Berlin, by a Bf 110 night fighter from Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden at 18:45h. It crashed near Nij Barrahûs. The crew of which 2 of 8 survived, had 4 nationalities : Canada, Australia, USA and UK. The picture shows the costume belonging to the surviving Canadian co-pilot Owen Donald Lewis who was captured. (Fries Museum exhibition, May 3rd, 2025). More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T3222.
22-12-1943 ME-110 G-2 120017/Weisse2 7./ZG26 Luftwaffe Britswerd, Wieuwerd NL
Crashed near Britswerd and Wieuwerd, NL at 16:30h, after it was shot down by a USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt. The picture (taken at the exhibition in the Fries Museum, May 3rd, 2025) shows the compass found at the crash site. More information can be found on the SGLO website here: T3268.

Luchtoorlog boven Nederland :  1939  1940  1941  1942  1943  1944  1945  Unkown

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