Cycling route Death Valley De Peel - Pilot's Monument (De Pelen) (#15)

Pilot's Monument

The current road pattern in the rural area of ​​Ospel is different
that of 1944. The former north-south track pattern is intersected
through the current Moostdijk, which takes us to the De Pelen Visitor Center
leads.
Although Nederweert, like Someren and Asten, was already in mid-September 1944
had been liberated, this part of the municipality was still occupied by the
Germans checked. It was bitterly fought over by both the Germans
Like the Allies, many soldiers and equipment were lost. In particular
heavy tanks and armored personnel carriers easily got stuck in the swamp.
This place is also known for the air war. In the densely populated
In the Netherlands, shot down aircraft could cause great damage.
That is why Allied pilots looked for escape routes in the dark if possible
and sparsely populated regions such as Peel. Where they are also used by night fighters
were chased.
Dozens of aircraft fell in and around the Groote Peel. Added to that
many Allied air force soldiers lost their lives. They got here in 2002
a joint monument at the Meermansblaak.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen