Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

A very big, standing boulder, placed in a square gravel bed at the roadside where the crash that is commemorated actually happened. The stone serves as frame for a bronze plaque in which the tale of the crash is told. On top is a picture of the crash's wreckage. Several informative panels surround the memorial. A bench seat is to the right.

In the night of September 16, 1943, RAF Lancaster JB144 'KC-N' squadron 617, piloted by RA(ustralian)AF  Les Knight (aged 22), was on the return from a low level attack on the Dortmund Ems canal in Germany, codenamed Operation Garlic. (Earlier that year, in May, F/Lt. Les Knight and his crew had taken part in the famous Operation Chastise, and were responsible for the succesfull breach of the Eder dam.)

Already hit by Flak over the target, with two engines out and hampered by groundmist and fog, Knight’s aircraft hit treetops and was severely damaged. He  battled for many minutes to keep the ship aloft so that his crew (seven men) had time and height to bale out safely. He then piloted the stricken Lancaster away from the village of Den Ham, thus saving the village from havoc and death, and tried to land in a field which seemed to work out but unfortunately, he hit a hidden ditch and was killed on impact. He was buried by the villagers in the local cemetery and is ever since revered as the hero who saved the lives of many while sacrificimg his own. 

All men that baled out landed safely; two were taken prisoner while five evaded capture succesfully. With help of local resistance groups (Dutch, Belgian and French) they could return to Britain. (See the Evader Register for their individual stories.)