Crash Site British Mustang FR934 Wernhout

Wernhout (Weimert) October 11, 1944 Mustang
On Wednesday 11 October 1944 at approximately 6:00 PM, the RAF Mustang FR934 (2nd Squadron RAF) of F/Lt. Michael Ridley Martin made a belly landing near Weimerstraat 11 in Wernhout. Ridley Martin had taken off at about 5.15 pm from Airfield Deurne (B70) near Antwerp. His assignment was to carry out a reconnaissance flight in the area of ​​Breda, Willemsdorp, Dordrecht, Gorinchem and Den Bosch and to look out for enemy movements on roads, railways and rivers. His aircraft was hit by FlaK near Raamsdonkveer. Because leaking coolant on his cockpit obscured his view, he was taken down by his Wingman F/Lt. West in the direction of Antwerp. At the height of Breda he had already lost a lot of height and speed and at about 175 meters his engine stopped.

The Mustang skimmed low over the house of the Mathijssen family at 13 Weimerstraat, hit the ground fifty meters away with a wing and then made a hard but successful belly landing. Michael crawled out of the plane and was injured. He had hit his head on landing, injuring his left eye and nose. His Wingman stayed close by until after landing. Adrianus and Louis Mathijssen were picking apples on site at that time and saw it happen.

Michael unhooked his parachute and took off immediately. When he noticed Adrianus, he walked over to him. Adrianus took Michael inside and treated his head wound. Katrien van den Berg had also seen the Mustang land. She sent her sons Adriaan and Jef to pick up the pilot and bring them to safety on their farm where there was a shelter. Adriaan and Jef grabbed his sleeve and pulled him along. In the meantime, the first German approached for an investigation into the aircraft. Jef hung his smock over Michael's head to hide the bandage on his head, after which both pretended to be working in the fields.

The Germans searched the entire area but could not find the pilot. During the examination of the aircraft, a German activated the on-board machine gun, seriously injuring another German soldier. The wounded soldier was taken to Zundert and peace returned. Doctor Koch from Zundert treated Michael's wound but advised Katrien to temporarily house him elsewhere because her hiding place was too damp. On October 12, he was transferred to Louis Boden in Achtmaal on the back of Wim van der Horst's bicycle and accompanied by constable Van der Meer. There he was nursed by district nurse Sister Todt.

On October 15 he had to leave again; with the Allied offensive imminent, the Germans established their headquarters at Achtmaal and Louis Boden was billeted. Wim van der Horst, accompanied by Marechaussees from Achtmaal, picked up Michael again and brought him back to Katrien. Michael remained in hiding there until the liberation on October 28, 1944. Four other pilots took shelter with Katrien; one Canadian, two Americans and one Czech.
The plane remained behind as a silent witness. It became a true play paradise for the children and was slowly demolished completely. Everything useful was taken. The cockpit hatch has long served as a feeder for the chickens. Strips were cut from the fuel tank, which was made of rubber, to fix it to the rim with iron wire in the absence of bicycle tires. The stripped-down wreck was finally cleaned up after years by an "old iron farmer". The propeller blades have been broken off; one of them is still owned by the Van den Berg family. Another is owned by the Ridley Martin family.

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Source

• Text: http://www.militairhistorischmuseumachtmaal.nl/
• Photos: Martin Damen