Crash Site Belgian Fairy Battle T-58

Crash site Belgian Fairy Battle T-58
Ginstraat – s Herenelderen (Tongeren)

On 11 May 1940, the Belgian Fairy Battle T-58 took off from Belsele airfield, targeting the bridge over the Albert Canal at Veldwezelt. The aircraft belonged to the 5th Escadrille / Group III / 3rd Regiment (5.III.3). The crew consisted of aviator Adjutant Gustave Timmermans, a 28-year-old pilot from Oudergem. His companion was the gunner 1st Sergeant Gustave Rolin-Hysmans. The latter was the senior of the Squadron. He had obtained his pilot's license at the end of the First World War, at the flying school of Juvisy. Given his advanced age, he was unfit to fly himself - this Liège resident had turned 40 a few weeks before.

During the raid on the bridge of Veldwezelt Fairy Battle was attacked by the Bf 109 of Oberleutnant Rendlich of I./JG 27. Oberleutnant Redlich, was the Staffelkapitän of the 1. Staffel. The aircraft was hit and crashed on the Molsterveld in 's Herenelderen, near the Ginstraat (on the railway).
The pilot Gustave Timmermans was buried in his native village.
Observer-gunner Gustave Rolin-Hysmans is buried in the cemetery near the castle of 's Herenelderen (Sint-Stefanusstraat).
(His grave was recently cleaned up)

At the war memorial in Vroenhoven is also a plaque commemorating the fallen Belgian Pilots of the bombing of the bridges of Vroenhoven and Veldwezelt on 11 May 1940. Gustave Timmermans and Gustave Rolin-Hysmans are also mentioned there.

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Source

• Text: Rudi Triki
• Photos: Willem Visser