Crash Site Lancaster ND-559

In the night of 21/22 May 1944 Lancaster ND-559 of 159 squadron of the Royal Air Force made a 'Pathfinder mission' to Duisburg. During the returnflight the bomber was shot down by a German fighter. Six of the crew members perished. They are buried at the local cemetery in Molenaarsgraaf. Pilot W.J. Ward was the sole survivor. He managed to bail out and was taken POW.

After the crash most parts of the wreckage were salvaged. A few parts were excavated much later. A Merlin engine and a propellor of this aircraft now form a fitting memorial. An information panel tells the story of the last flight of ND-559.

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

Source

• Text: Arjan Vrieze
• Photos: Arjan Vrieze