Crash Site Vickers Wellington Mk.III BK340 KW-T

A Vickers Wellington Mk.III bomber crashed in this area on 12 March 1943. The aircraft with registration BK340 KW-T belonging to 425 (Alouette) Sqn RCAF had taken off at 19.12 from Disforth airfield in England. Its target was the Krupps factories in the German city of Essen. The target was not reached. On the way out, the aircraft was shot down by the Messerschmidt Bf110 night fighter of Leutnant Oskar Köstler of NJG1. The plane caught fire and crashed at 21:58. All crew members were able to save themselves with their parachutes. They landed scattered in the Wieringermeerpolder and in West Friesland and were captured by the occupying forces. The crew consisted of: Pilot : Sergeant Joseph Georges Gilles Claude Lamontagne RCAF R/104784 Navigator : Flight Sergeant Adrien Walter Brown RCAF R/104832 Bomb aimer : Flight Sergeant Joseph Adrian Vincent Gauthier RCAF R/72626 Radio Operator : Sergeant J R A Gouley RCAF Tail gunner : Flight Sergeant M J A Aumond RCAF The commemorative pole was placed in 2024 by the Stichting Herdendenkingspalen Hollands Kroon. (Hollands Kroon Commemorative Poles Foundation).