Crash Location Halifax DT.645/MH 'B'

The Halifax monument in Harlingen was erected in memory of the seven killed crew members of the British bomber who crashed here in 1943 on the 'Black road'.

The names of the seven crew members killed in action are: David C. Smith, Edward F. Kinerman, Charles L. King, Murray H. Nesbitt, William J. Merrigan, Barnard A. Bunting, and Eric W. Thomson.

In the period from March to July 1943, both the American USAAF (during the day) and the British RAF (at night) bombed the German Ruhr area, the so-called 'Battle of the Ruhr'. Duisburg was the target on the night of 12 to 13 May 1943. A fleet of 572 bombers departed from various bases in England to attack Germany's largest Rhine port and important industrial city.

One of those bombers was the Halifax DT.645/MH 'B' of 51 Squadron of the RAF. Shortly before 11:30 AM (UK time) on Wednesday, May 12, 1943, the aircraft took off from Snaith Air Force Base (near Leeds) with pilot David C. Smith, flight engineer Edward F. Kinerman, wireless operator Charles L. King, rear gunner Murray H. Nesbitt, rear gunner William J. Merrigan, bomb aimer Barnard A. Bunting, and navigator Eric W. Thomson. Pilot Smith had the rank of Flight Sergeant, the rest of the crew that of Sergeant. Charley King was the oldest on board at 32 years old, the others ranged in age from 21 to 23 years. Five were from England, the two others (Thomson and Nesbitt) from Canada.

The Halifax was loaded with two 450 kg bombs, 48 14 kg incendiary bombs and 630 1.5 kg incendiary bombs. But the aircraft never reached its target, the city of Duisburg. Over the north of the Netherlands, well outside the prescribed route, the bomber was spotted by the German radar stations. A night fighter type Messerschmitt Bf110 of the Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden was sent to it. At about 5,000 meters above Herbaijum, Oberleutnant Lothar Linke fired cannons at Halifax, knocking out some control surfaces of the bomber's tail.

The out-of-control plane went into a vorille, causing a terrifying noise. Due to the beautiful weather, the noise could be heard far and wide. The Halifax fell as it spun. It was impossible for the occupants to do anything. Just before reaching the ground, the Halifax broke into pieces and ran aground over a large area around the 'Groot Ropens' farm.

Initially, only five bodies were found the next morning. Later in the day, the remaining two crew members were found among the tall crops. They were buried on Saturday, May 15, 1943 at the General Cemetery in Harlingen. First next to each other, but due to a post-war reclassification, Bunting and Thompson have since been separated from the others.

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Source

• Text: Bert Deelman
• Photos: Bert Deelman
• Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei