Memorial Lancaster JB659

On January 30, 1944, a British Lancaster bomber (JB 659) crashed in the polder between Haarlem and Amsterdam, right on the farm of the van der Bijl family. A total of 13 people (6 family members and all 7 crew members) died. The monument consists of 2 sections of wall with a pedestal in between with a propeller with bent blades and a plaque. There are also trees dedicated to the deceased Van der Bijl crew and family members.

Lancaster JB659 was from the 97 Squadron, in January 1944 it was stationed at RAF Bourn and was on its way to Berlin. The Lancaster was shot down by Major Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer of 12/NJG 1. The crew buried on the Communal Cemetery in Zwanenburg.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar.nl, Lammert Melk & R. Wit
• Photos: Lammert Melk (1, 2), Rick Hoogervorst (3, 4, 5)