Draft:1943 Bodegraven Martin B-26 Marauder crashes

1943 Bodegraven Martin B-26 Marauder mid-air collision

Occurrence
Date	17 May 1943 (11:58 AM local time)
Summary	Mid-air collision
Site	Noordzijderpolder and Meijepolder, Bodegraven, Netherlands
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator	United States Army Air Forces
Fatalities	8
Injuries	4
Survivors	4 (crash site), 6 (captured)

The 1943 Bodegraven Martin B-26 Marauder mid-air collision occurred on 17 May 1943, when two Martin B-26 Marauder bombers of the United States Army Air Forces collided mid-air above the Dutch town of Bodegraven during World War II. The crash, which killed eight crew members and injured four others, became the deadliest war-related incident in Bodegraven. A third bomber made a forced landing nearby and its crew were taken prisoner.

Crash

On the morning of 17 May 1943, seven American B-26 Marauder bombers flew over Bodegraven on their way to a bombing mission. Around 11:58 AM, two of the aircraft collided over the Noordzijderpolder and crashed into nearby fields, scattering debris across the countryside. A third aircraft made an emergency landing in the Meijepolder near De Meije after being struck by debris.

A local eyewitness, J.G. Stolwijk, described hearing loud engine noise and witnessing the aircraft crashing behind a farm near the Vredehof Cemetery: "Everything burned like a torch. I saw the fuselages and wings... it was deadly silent. Suddenly, I saw movement on a wing, but it broke off and the man disappeared in the flames."

Eight American airmen died in the crash. Four were injured and taken to a hospital in Gouda by the local branch of the Red Cross. All six crew members of the aircraft that crash-landed in the Meije were captured and held as prisoners of war.

Victims

The names of the eight fallen crew members were later confirmed and included on a commemorative plaque:

• William Converse, 24
• Berton H. Ramsey Jr., 24
• Arthur E. Garni, 21
• Kenneth B. Von Lindern, 25
• James D. Thompson, 22
• Frank Lamonica, 23
• Richard O. Wolfe, 21
• Jack E. Vandergrift, 24

The remaining four wounded crewmen and six captured airmen were also identified. Of those hospitalized, only one survived the war.

Memorial and rememberance

In August 1945, the local Red Cross proposed a memorial to be placed at the Vredehof Cemetery in honor of the eight American airmen. The plan was endorsed by then-mayor Cornelis Simon van Dobben de Bruijn. However, the monument was never realized; until 80 years later.

Thanks to the efforts of three local historians of the Stichting 4 mei Herdenking (4 May Remembrance Foundation), the idea was revived. Their research for a documentary titled Zwarte maandag – 17 mei 1943 ("Black Monday – 17 May 1943") uncovered forgotten correspondence about the original memorial plan.

On 17 May 2025, a memorial plaque was finally unveiled at the end of the Vredehof Cemetery, overlooking the site of the crash. The unveiling ceremony included speeches by foundation chairman Eric Bette, American chargé d'affaires Marcus Micheli and mayor Michiel Grauss. Two historic aircraft performed a flyby at 11:58 AM, the time of the original crash, followed by a bugle call and a moment of silence.

In Bodegraven an audio tour can be booked in an army truck that visits the site of the disaster.

See also

• 1944 Zegveld Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crash

References

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• 1943 in the Netherlands
• Aviation accidents and incidents in 1943
• Aviation accidents and incidents in the Netherlands
• May 1943 in Europe
• Bodegraven-Reeuwijk
• History of South Holland
• Military history of the Netherlands during World War II
• Military history of the United States during World War II
• Aviation in World War II