Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

The 'Wellington monument' in Akkrum consists of a polished slate stone, on which a stainless steel plaque is attachedd, on which the names of the fallen crewmembers are etched. The slate stone stands on a concrete pedestal, on which a second (stainless steel) plaque is attached, with an account of the crash . An other plaque is attached to the fence behind the monument. To the right of the memorial is a curved stone bench.

Special feature: a piece of New Zealand emerald that was blessed by a Maori priest for this particular occasion, is masoned into the concrete pedestal.

In the night of 7 to 8 November 1941, Vickers Wellington bomber X9976 of the RAF  crashed in the Soarremoarre, a township near the village of Akkrum. The aircraft belonged to 75 Squadron (New Zealand). On their way back home from a bombmission to Berlin, the bomber was downed by Oblt. Helmut Lent who operated from the Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden; at 01:21 the aircraft crashed about 800 m N.E. of this place. All crew members, among which  three crewmembers from New Zealand and three of British/Irish descent, were killed.