TracesOfWar.com
Memorial B17 Man-O-War
(Netherlands, the - Guelders - Opijnen)
In Opijnen in a newbuild area this memorial can be found. The memorial honours the American crew members of the B17 'Man-O-War' that crashed in Opijnen on July 30th 1943. Eight of the ten crewmembers didn't survive the crash, they are buried in the Protestant churchyard in Opijnen.
Robert U. Duggan, Navigator
Daniel V. Ohman, Bombardier
Douglas V. Blackwood, Radioman
Americo Cianfichi, Engineer
Mike A. Perrotta, Ball Turret
Harold R. Sparks, Waist Gunner
George R. Krueger, Waist Gunner
Hermon D. Poling, Tail Gunner
The two crew members that did survive the crash are:
Keene C. McCammon, Pilot
John P. Bruce, Co-Pilot
The memorial was reveiled in 2006 by John Bruce, the Co-Pilot of the B17 that crashed in Opijnen. (photo 4,5)
In the surroundings of this memorial ten streets are named after those who crashed in Opijnen, these streets can be found:
Brucestraat
McCammonplein
Blackwoodstraat
Dugganstraat
Cianfichipoort
Sparksstraat
Kruegerpad
Ohmanpad
Polingsstraat
Perrottastraat
Source
- Text: Paul Moerenhout
- Photos: Paul Moerenhout (1,2,3) & Kelly Bruce (4,5)
TracesOfWar.com series
Address and contactinformation
- Address:
- McCammonplein
Opijnen - WWII grade:
- 100%
- Rating:
- 40%
Where is it?
Nearby (help)
Museum
Point of interest
Monument
Cemetery
- Commonwealth War Graves Geldermalsen
- Commonwealth War Grave Oud-Empel
- Dutch War Graves Zaltbommel (R.C. Cemetery)
Stumbling Stone
Fortification
Visitor reactions
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Reactions
- My father was John P. Bruce, the co-pilot of the Man-O-War B-17, shot down in May 43 and liberated by Patton in June 1945 (while a POW at Stalag 3). Within walking distance of this memorial is the town's church graveyard where the 8 members of his crew that died in the crash are buried. This was a rare case where the German occupiers allowed the local towns people to bury the crew in their town cemetary rather than turning over their bodies. The towns people were told by the Germans that nobody could attend the burials and it had to be done at night. Long story short, they failed. The entire town showed up and honored their sacrifice. Every May 4th is Hollands version of Memorial Day; called Remembrance Day. The towns church bells toll at 1900hrs and a moment of silence is observed across the country. My fathers first trip back to Opijnen was in 1985 when the American Womens Club of Amsterdam located him and the Pilot, Keene McCammon and both were sponsored by the club and flown over. It was their first time back there for both of them and it was very moving. In 2004, the AWCA again reached out to them both to let them know that this memorial had been planned at the center of a new home community and that the streets of the complex would all be named after them and their crew. Keene McCammon sadly passed away before the ceremony was held but the Bruce family made the trip over and was present. In 2006, the community was completed and we again went over for the unvieling ceremony. A Marine honor guard was present as well as dignitaries from the US consulates office. Again, the towns people all showed up and paid their respect and admiration to my Father for his and other Americans sacrifice to help free them from Hitler's tyranny. I have photos to share if anyone is interested. Thanks
- By: Kelly Bruce
- City: Orlando - Florida
- Date and time: 27-05-2012 17:29:03
- Ranking: 5 out of 5 stars
