During the night of May 11-12, 1944, a British Lancaster bomber from the 103rd Squadron of the Royal Air Force crashed in the woods of Oostmalle, on the site of what is now the NATO reserve airfield. The seven crew members were killed and buried at Schoonselhof Cemetery in Antwerp.
After years of research, the events of the crash were fully reconstructed, and relatives of the fallen crew members were traced. On May 4, 2012, a commemoration ceremony was held at Oostmalle-Zoersel airfield, where a plaque was unveiled. In addition to numerous dignitaries, relatives of the crew were also present. Overflights of a Lancaster and F-16s were also performed.
The ceremonial unveiling was performed by Wings of Memory.
Photo’s Bart Huysmans
