Cycle Route Wings of Freedom: Crash Site Douglas C-47A-90-DL(DC-3), W-No. 43-15643

The C-47 planes were the main means of transport serving as an airlift for Operation Market garden. Conveying men and material was done by means of gliders that were attached to the aforementioned planes.

The moment the glider was disconnected from the C-47 a 20-mm grenade, fired by flak, exploded in the cockpit: almost immediately there was a sea of fire inside.
The co-pilot’s head was severely injured and he fell down, bleeding heavily. The captain ordered the other men to jump out. After they had landed they were taken care of by men of the Airborne Division and the captain, who had burns, received First Aid. Within three days they were back in England via Brussels.
The glider that had been attached to the C-47 also crashed. It skidded on too far and came to a halt against the wall of a house just across the German border.
All the six men inside survived, though injured, and were taken prisoner by the Germans.

Crew members:
Pilot L. White jr USAAF Survived
Copilot R.V. Dover USAAF WIA American Cemetery Margraten WOM
Radio operator M.B. Glick USAAF Survived
Crew chief G.A. Pace USAAF Survived

The crash took place at the coordinates: 51.718816, 5.998104.


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
• Vliegtuigcrashroute Wings of Freedom