Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

The 'Monument for British airmen' consists of a plaquette, attached to the upside of the  Twistvlietbrug bridgerailing (Southside), at the level of the basculevault in the bridge.  A commemorative text is engraved in the plaquette,of which the characters are enhanced by the use of white varnish. 

Near the bridge is the crashsite of RAF Lancaster ME722 that took off late at night on May 21 from Elsham Wolds , base of 103 Squadron to which it belonged. Target was Duisburg Germany. En route to target the bomber was hit by Flak near Kleve, which forced pilot T.I. Jones to abort the mission and try to return home.  The bomber then fell prey  just after midnigh to night fighter pilot Hauptmann Martin Drewes of the Stab III./NJG 1, who had taken off from Leeuwarden airfield piloting a Bf 110G-4. 

Of the crew of seven, three men lost their lives. They are buried at the General Cemetery in Zwolle (De Kranenburg) while four airmen baled out safely and intially evaded capture. Two men (one Canadian, one Australian) managed to stay out of German hands; the other two eventually were arrested and became Prisoners of War. Their stories can be found in the Evader Register.