Belgian War Grave Lokeren-Heiende

The grave of a civilian victim lies at the Heiende cemetery.
"Rest here
Elza-Maria COPPIETERS
Born October 22, 1928 and as a victim
died during the war on May 11, 1944
R.I.P."

On May 11, 1944, the Lindestraat - Sterrestraat district in the center of the city of Lokeren was mistakenly bombed by the Allied air force. More than 100 bombs fell. Eighty-five people were killed, dozens were injured and maimed, and hundreds of homes were destroyed or damaged.
The actual target of the bombing planes was the railway junction in Schaerbeek. The Americans prepared the landing in Normandy. Three formations of 21 aircraft each flew over Lokeren and something went wrong with the last formation.
A few minutes before a bombing raid, valves were opened in the aircraft, such as the landing gear. An inexperienced crew member pressed the wrong button and released the bombs too early. The bomb officials in the other aircraft of the formation realized too late that it was a mistake and also dropped their bombs over Lokeren.

The victims fell prey to "friendly fire", as it is called.
Sixty years later, the city of Lokeren received an honorary diploma at the Royal Palace in Brussels for "City Victim of War 1940-1945".
For the city, this recognition is a posthumous tribute to all Lokeren civilian victims.

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