Cycle Route Wings of Freedom: Crash Site Douglas C-47, W-No. 43-15185

Operation Market Garden was an allied offensive that started on September 17 and came to an end September 26. The allied forces wanted to take a number of bridges. Onfortunately the bridge at Arnhem could not be conquered and the operation was a failure. C-47 transport planes towed glider planes (so-called WACOs) to drop men and rolling stock and other equipment. In this operation 1274 C-47 transport planes took part together with 2160 WACOs.

Two C-47 planes flew over on 18-09-1944, but one of them got hit by anti-aircraftguns. The crew jumped out of the plane with their parachutes. The aircraft flew over the Willemse’s house which caught fire because of the leaking petrol. After that it hit the Venbroecks’ house with a wing and a moment later the barn was hit, which also caught fire. Two of the crew members were taken prisoner immediately and the other two could escape helped by persons in hiding. One of these had a broken an ankle and his left leg. After having been helped by the local GP these two men were also arrested a few days later.

Crew members:
Pilot Harvey L. Wharton USAAF POW Stalag Luft III Sagan
Copilot Maurice D. O’Conner USAAF POW
Navigator Allan L. Thornburg USAAF POW Stalag Luft VII Moosburg
Radio operator John R. Ruscito USAAF POW Stalag Luft IV Groß Tychow
Crew chief Otis Johnson USAAF POW Stalag Luft IV Groß Tychow

The crash took place at the coordinates: 51.668904, 6.036712.


In collaboration with the municipalities of Bergen, Gennep, Mook-Middelaar and Weeze, the initiative was created for cycling routes 'Wings of Freedom' along crash locations.
In the four municipalities, 28 crash sites have been definitively confirmed. Near each crash site is a memorial sign with information about the cause of the crash. Using the network of cycling nodes, there are four routes of approximately 30 - 40 km. deployed along these places.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Werkgroep Wings of Freedom
• Photos: Werkgroep Wings of Freedom (1), Peter Schipper (2, 3, 4)
• Vliegtuigcrashroute Wings of Freedom