War over Oude IJsselstreek: Breedenbroek Den Dam

The story of the Handley Page Hampden, departed from Coningsby, United Kingdom, that carried out a devastating bombardment on Mannheim Ludwichshafen and did not manage to reach home base.

It is early in the war. One did not get used yet to the roar of the bomber engines.

Suddenly, in the middle of the night, the roar comes very close. The noise swells, fear throbs in the throat of the residents. What is happening?? Blind panic. Is it crashing on our house??

A tree pushes the plane just along the house, but it crashes on the neighbour’s house. The complete aircrew dies in the flames, two Englishmen, an Irishman, and a guy from new Zealand, all flying for the RAF. But also two young neighbour kids from the Lammers family, who were sleeping and were surrounded by fire, die.  4 and 12 years old. The cruelty of the war scourges the civilian population.