Hi All I am trying to trace the exact crash site of the above aircraft that crashed during the resupply operations at Arnhem on 21st Sept 1944. A friend's father was one of the Air Despatch Crew who like the rest of the crew perished in the accident when approaching the Rhine, their wing was hit by an Aluminium resupply container dropped from aircraft higher above them. The wing detached and the aircraft spun into the ground killing all on board. From all references including the excellent "Green On" by A J Van Hees describes the location as "south of the River Rhine near Driel and the local football field Zeldenrust" Can anyone suggest how I might be able to improve on that, I did think about seeing if an aerial recon photo taken after the event may show up the wreckage of the aircraft. Any thoughts much appreciated.
David The best clue to this probably comes from the Graves Concentration Report form for Jack Wills who was the Pilot of KG 417. This states that his body was recovered at map reference 679764 "By the riverside, near a track". All reports state that the bodies were initially buried at the crash site before being recovered post war and transferred to Arnhem/Oosterbeek War Cemetery where Wills is in Grave 4.C.1 and the remainder of the crew in a Collective Grave 4.C.2. If the map reference is correct this would place the location of his first burial just under the "r" of the river Neder John
This doesn't help with the precise crash location but I thought I'd post the loss details for others to see. 21 September 1944 48 Squadron Dakota KG417 Near Driel The aircraft was running in to the target when it was struck by the load from another Dakota. A wing failed and the aircraft dived into the ground on the southern bank of the river, just north of Driel. It appears that a formation of aircraft from 233 and 437 Sqns were dropping from between 2000 and 3000 feet and as they were ahead of the aircraft from 48 and 271 Sqns, their loads presented a hazard to aircraft flying behind and at a lower altitude. Casualties Pilot Officer Jack Gordon WILLS 21 RCAF Pilot Flying Officer James William ERICKSON 23 RCAF Co-Pilot Pilot Officer Desmond George HARDY 24 Navigator Flight Sergeant David Stenhouse BLACK 22 Wireless Operator Lieutenant Herbert Arthur EDWARDS 27 223 Air Despatch Coy RASC Lance Corporal Eric ROSCOE 36 Driver Jack TAYLOR 27 Driver Ben WELHAM 38 Source - Though Without Anger - C. Cummings
J G Wills service record which is scanned on Ancestry.com has a three page report from the Grave Registration Unit. The title of the report states: Report on Dakota No. Unknown, crashed approx. 16.15 hrs. on 20/21 September 1944 at Map. Reference E. 681763 near Driel, Gemeente, HETEREN, Holland Contains a very sad description of what the team found at the site two years after the incident, they were told by the locals that the crash site was located between the summer and winter banks of the Rhine and thus the remains, which were never buried initially, became waterlogged over two successive winters, in the opinion of the recovery officer. Its not nice reading from the point of view of a son or daughter. I've attached them to this posting.
Gentlemen: Thank you all for such a detailed and expeditious response to my enquiry. I felt it was going to be a long and arduous slog but you have made the search quite painless, much appreciated., thanks again
Very sad. I remember a picture of my relative on his mothers sideboard, in his uniform. I did not know who he was, no one would speak the loss was so great. I later found out he was Herbert Arthur Edwards.
I come to this forum in memory of Driver Jack Taylor, who was on board KG417, and I appreciate and value all the contributions made here. In particular, thanks to David Winterbottom for directing me to this forum.
Dakota lost at Driel (near voetbalveld Zeldenrust) on 21-09-1944 (SGLO ref: T4225) https://bronro.overbetuwe.nl/C79616..._NL.IMRO.1734.0238BUITsluisDriel-ONT1_tb2.pdf search T/R number
Some years ago, when I was a member of the Hockley RBL Pipe Band, our Pipe Major was a close friend of a chap who raised funds for an Air Despatch Memorial just outside the Arnhem Cemetery and we were privileged to march past for it unveiling. I can remember the ceremony inside the cemetery when halfway through there was a twittering as a large flock of birds as the schoolchildren that tend the graves came in. Arnhem is almost a pre War English town in the way everyone behaves, and to see children coming up to vets to get their autographs was inspiring. I still remember the disappointment of one lad on discovering he'd already got the signature of one vet from the year before! If you ever need reminding that the cost and sacrifice of the War was worthwhile, you only have to go to Arnhem. Geel was another heartwarming town I have fond memories of, where their Liberation was truly appreciated.
I think that Frans Ammerlaan or Andries Hoekstra of www.Marketgarden.com you mentioned. I prefer Oosterbeek with his old cottages. In past years we drove with our Jeeps to the MG area. To fly with C-47 '' The Drag em Oot '' to DZ Wolfheze ,what an experience. That whole area is drowned with blood.