Cycling route Death Valley de Peel - Glass in the cradle (Gezandebaan) (#10)

Glass in the cradle

On the night of June 21 to 22, 1943, the Allies carried out an air raid on Krefeld. 705 bombers took part, of which 44 were lost
above the Netherlands. That night, fifteen aircraft crashed in North Brabant, including the Avro Lancaster III EE-198 of the 619 Squadron in Asten-Heusden. That aircraft was shot down at 1:25 am by night fighter Wilhelm Herget of 3/NJG 1. The Lancaster was flown by pilot Sergeant Donald V. Jordan (22). He and his crew members found W.M. Girdwood (23); E. Stanley (22); W.A. Davies (23); W.J. Parkes (24); F. Burton (26) and B. Howe (22) died in the Veluwepeel.

This air disaster could almost have been much bigger. Shortly before the crash, this plane dropped its bombs in a dark forest area.
As a result of the air pressure of an exploding bomb, the tiles of the nearby Karel van Bussel farm exploded from the roof, facades and windows burst, and the exterior and interior doors were lifted from their frames. Bomb splinters punched holes in the walls. But: there were no personal accidents. Even youngest daughter Annie, in her crib full of glass, did not suffer a scratch.

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

Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen