Ketelmeer dike, Dronten (loswal)

 

In 2014, the last remains of a twin-engined Vickers Wellington bomber were recovered from the Ketelmeer near this memorial pole. In all probability it concerned Wellington HF544 of the Australian 466 Squadron, which did not return to home base Driffield after a mission to Gelsenkirchen in the night of 25 to 26 June 1943. Major Helmut Lent achieved his mission at 01:13 that night over the IJsselmeer near Urk 71st night victory.

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Crew

• Pilot: Andrew Basil Reginald Airy, Flight Sergeant, age 26

• Navigator: William Eric Riley, Flying Officer, age 25

• Bombardier: George Charles Green, Sergeant, age 20

• Radio operator/gunner: Thomas Martin Atkinson, Sergeant

• Tail Gunner: George Ronald Johnson, Sergeant, age 20

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Riley's body washed up near Urk and was buried at the Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaats in Amsterdam. Airy, Green, Atkinson and Johnson are still missing and their names are on the Commonwealth Air Forces Missing Memorial in Runnymede, England.

 

Parts of this bomber can be viewed in the Airgunnersroom in De Meerpaal in Dronten.