Memorial Allied Forces Harderwijk

In Harderwijk a monument has been unveiled for the crew members of allied aircraft that fell into the sea at Harderwijk or surroundings during the Second World War.
The four-meter-high monument depicts a plane that plunges into the water. It was placed Wednesday by a transport helicopter from Defense in the Veluwemeer near Harderwijk. The monument is an initiative of foundation Allied Forces Harderwijk and has cost 12,500 euros.

At Harderwijk, 117 Allied airmen died during the war. These include Americans, British, Canadians, South Africans, and New Zealanders.

45 of them are buried in Harderwijk. The other Allied pilots are on honorary fields. And some of the pilots have never been recovered.

During the Second World War, many bombers flew over the Netherlands to bomb targets in Germany. On both the way back and on the way the pilots flew most preferably over open water.

Nearly at Harderwijk stood German anti-aircraft guns and with that, some aircraft were shot down. Several of the crew members then washed at Harderwijk.