I saw an item on a current affairs program tonight that showed me that we’ll never be done with this. It’s quite an incredible, and to me, revolting story.
Throughout the Netherlands, about 2000 wrecks of allied aircraft still are burried under ground. They all crashed, most of them on their way from England to bombing German cities, or on their way back. Shot down by German ground-to-air artillery, stationed in the occupied Netherlands. It is estimated that at least 400 of those planes still carry the remains of their flight crews.
Let me state this as loud and clear as I can: we have a moral obligation to make sure these guys are burried properly, either here, or in their country of birth.
The government realises this too, and planes are being salvaged all the time. Of course, 2000 planes take a lot of time and effort. That’s why it’s been taking years. Then there’s the usual shit about paying off farmers whose fields you’re gonna tear open, et cetera. Bureaucratic stuff.
The news item was about a Canadian bomber. On its way back from a bombardment over Dortmundt, it was shot down near the town of Wilnis, some 20 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam, on May 5, 1943 (by coincidence, two years prior to our liberation - to the day). The pilot told the bombing crew to bail, but he and two others went down with the plane. Eye witnesses state that in a heroic effort, the pilot managed to steer the flaming bomber over the village, circled close around the church tower, and crashed in a meadow just outside of town. The pilot prevented a disaster, and had to pay for it with his life, and the life of two others. They were aged 24 to 27. The planes wing had cut into the side of a ditch, and caused the soft ground combined with the water to quickly absorb the plane. When villagers ventured out to the plane the next morning (the Germans shot anyone who approached a shot down allied plane, so it wasn’t safe at night), it has almost completely subermerged. Near the plane, the torn off leg and arm of the pilot were found. The remains were burried at the Wilnis cemetary - since the locals didn’t know who were in the plane, they had no way of contacting the relatives.
Fast forward to 2001. The local viccar has been in contact with the relatives of the flight crew of the Canadian bomber (it had been identified a year later by the RAF, see below). They all agree the plane should be salvaged, and the three men should be burried on Canadian soil. Fine, you’ll say.
One problem. The local government (who have to pay for the salvage operation) do not wish to cooperate. Reasons? A city council member states that “he has a financial responsibility towards the community as well, and the operation is too expensive”. Never mind that the viccar managed to raise 80,000 Guilders (USD 30,000) for the salvage operation within that same community. Never mind that the Dutch Ministry of Defence has stated that they will pay for whatever costs the municipality is unable to cover. Never mind the three letters the mayor of Wilnis received from the respective families in Canada, asking to salvage the plane. Asking to give them their brothers back. The mayor was quoted as saying: “This is a seamans grave, and should not be disturbed”. WTF?? A Canadian bomber under 2 meters of dirt is a seamans grave? Think again. Something’s fishy here.
So, this news crew decides to investigate it. It turns out that the British RAF undertook a salvage attempt in 1946, but they had to abort because of insufficient tools. So after identifying the plane, they left again, leaving a big crater with a half burried bomber. The reporters were able to track down an official municipal note from late 1946, stating that “the hole was filled with construction debris and old metal, and covered up”.
You disrespectful bastards. You used the only grave these three heroes had for a WASTE BIN?? Men who gave their lives for our freedom? WHAT A FUCKING DISGRACE.
The local government denies all charges, of course. They’re dodging ANY question having to do with the War. And the reporters found out why. All the Jewish inhabitants of the town were reported to the Nazis by the municipal administration weeks after the Nazis occupied the Netherlands. They were subsequently deported, and no doubt died a horrible death in one of the camps in Germany. Granted, this was a small town. The number of people handed over to the Nazis may not have been more than 20, 25 tops. But that’s irrelevant. You can easily see why this municipality is not exactly eager to open up ANY WWII file.
Fucking bastards. It’s one thing to have been a complete bunch of cowardly traitors during the war. But that’s 60 years ago!! No one’s going to hold the current administration responsible for it. Hell, they might even gather a lot of respect for doing the right thing. Being open about what went wrong during the war, and being open about how they dumped city waste over the dead bodies of three Canadian liberators. No one in charge NOW is responsible for it. This has got to end, now. We can’t bring back the Jews they sent towards a certain death. But we sure as HELL can make sure those three young Canadian heroes get the grave they so rightly deserve. On Canadian soil, and not in a rotting aircraft, 2 meters under the surface of a Dutch meadow.
A local man, who saw the crash happen and who found the remains of the pilot the next morning, ended the segment of the news item: “Every year, on the 5th of May, the marching band I play in visits the grave of the pilot. We observe 2 minutes of silence, and proceed to play the Canadian National Anthem. It is a very peaceful moment, in which we thank these guys. Guys like you and me, that were sent over to fight for our liberty. And paid the highest price. You know, it makes me very happy to still be able to do this, at age 80. But you know what would make me really proud? My ultimate dream is to fly over to Canada next year, with my marching band. We’ll play the Canadian Anthem at their graves, when they’re properly burried in their own country. We’ll be there, on the 5th of May.”
It’s not over. It’s not over by a long shot.
Thanks for listening.
