If you walk from Erm in a northerly direction to Sleen, there has been a sign with the number 50 for a few days since a few days. If you are close enough to read the text on the information board, you will find out that a German plane crashed at that location 81 years ago.
There are now 51 of these information boards distributed by the province. The Air War Research Drenthe is responsible for this. “We have set ourselves the goal of having 80 signs throughout the province in the year of 80 years,” says Rob Wethly of the foundation.
It is not long for Wehtly to find places for the 80 signs. “With the knowledge we have now, at least 400 locations are known of crashed aircraft in the province of Drenthe.” This is not only about Allied air traffic, but also with the Germans’ machines are being considered. “One of our key points is to make the story as complete as possible, so that also includes the German side. That makes the piece of history more complete.”
The German hunter at Erm crashed on March 6, 1944, a day in which a lot happened in the airspace above Drenthe. “Only on that day 150 devices crashed, there are a lot. If you consider that an America bomber had ten crew members and a German hunter 1, then you talk about hundreds of victims that day.
But how is it possible that so many planes have crashed over Drenthe? “It was an important approach route for American and British aircraft. For the goals in East Germany, such as Berlin, they had to think well their fuel capacity. They could therefore best fly in one straight line and then you came straight across Drenthe.”
The locations are not limited to specific areas within the provincial borders. “Something crashed at every village. That also had to do with the fact that the air defense of the Germans here was very closed. If you flew here with a bomber, there was a good chance that you were shot.”
The aim of Stichting Air War Research Drenthe is to have 80 signs throughout the province before the end of the year. “It is quite a lot of work for us, but it is a lot of fun to do. We will continue with it.”