Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

The 'Short Stirling monument' in Doornspijk, actually refers to the downing of a Vickers Wellington bomber. The monument is  named after the origin of the propeller that constitutes the monument, as it was the propeller of a Short Stirling bomber.
The propeller is mounted on a metal pole, to which an informative sign is attached  showing the heraldic badge of 199 squadron and the names of the airmen who lost their lives in the crash.

On 13 May 1943 the RAF Vickers Wellington HE702 , 199 squadron based at RAF airfield in Ingham, was on the way back from a successful night mission to Duisburg.  At 02.09 hrs the aircraft was shot down over Doornspijk by Oblt. R. Sigmund of 10./NJG 1. All six crewmembers lost their lives in the crash. They all rest at the Municipal Cemetery 'Oostergaarde' in Harderwijk.

Mr Holstege was an eyewitness to the crash: 'It was right above our house. I heard a small machine-gun blast and the plane immediately caught fire. The engines ran terribly when the plane crashed down.' It was not until the next day that he, together with D. Lieuwerink, was able to set out to see exactly what had happened. “I rode there on an old bicycle. A large German truck came behind me and I dived into the roadside for it. It was not until Sunday morning that Russian prisoners of war removed the killed crew from the plane.”