Memorial cross Wagelerbosch
Posted by: 
naj16
N 50° 47.628 E 005° 53.672
31U E 703989 N 5630889
The monument in the Wagelerbosch in Gulpen (municipality GulpenWittem) was established in memory of six killed crew members of two crashed Halifax bombers during World War II. On April 23, 1944 near this location the RAF bomber 76 SQDN crashed.
Waymark Code: WMG1PB
Location: Limburg, Netherlands
Date Posted: 01/02/2013
Views: 10
The Halifax RAF bomber 76 SQDN’s target in the night of 23/04/1944, together with a fleet of 596 aircrafts, was Dusseldorf. However, above the Netherlands the plane was hit by a hostile night fighter, caught fire and crashed. Four crew members saved themselves by parachutes and a fifth was thrown from the plane but survived with severe injuries.Three crew members were captured as prisoner of war. The other two, Jim Lewis and Tom Wingham managed to escape and hide.
Pilot Stan Somerscales and gunner Harry Poole were killed in the woods close to this location. They are buried in Maastricht.
Tom Wingham wrote a book named: ‘Halifax down!’
The text at the plaque:
'R.A.F. 76 SQDN
23-4-1944
S.A. SOMERSCALES
H.A. POOLE'.
Property Permission: Public
Location of waymark:
Lookerheiweg
Crapoel,
Commemoration: Crew members two crashed RAF bombers WW2
Date of Dedication: Not listed
Access instructions: Not listed
Access times: Not listed
Website for Waymark: Not listed
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