Cycle Route Wings of Freedom: Crash Site Junkers Ju 87D-5 (Stuka)

We do not know what the mission of this aircraft was, but what we do know is that it had 3 bombs of each 500 pounds on board. The date of the crash, about 25-12-1944, and the following crash story are the most likely facts, but there is absolutely no certainty. In the period that the Junkers Ju87 fell to earth all the Afferden inhabitants had been evacuated and that’s why there were no civilian eye witnesses. That night, it was Christmas, there were some Canadian 410 Squadron Mosquitoes flying in the area Venlo-Venray. One of them spotted the Ju87, but it was difficult to shoot it down. The Ju87 used its speed limit very well by decreasing its speed suddenly and sharply, then turn quickly and increase its speed to the full max. The fast Mosquitoes had to manoeuvre a lot in order not to dash past. Two or three attacks were required to shoot down the Junkers Ju87 once and for all. The crash took place at the coordinates: 51.652283, 6.015727. In collaboration with the municipalities of Bergen, Gennep, Mook-Middelaar and Weeze, the initiative was created for cycling routes 'Wings of Freedom' along crash locations. In the four municipalities, 28 crash sites have been definitively confirmed. Near each crash site is a memorial sign with information about the cause of the crash. Using the network of cycling nodes, there are four routes of approximately 30 - 40 km. deployed along these places.