The Lancaster of the Coates crew, 97 Squadron, was shot down at Weebosch, near Luyksgestel, Holland, at 12.30 in the morning of 25 March 1944. All seven crew members died.

• Pilot: Sgt William Darby, known as Bill Coates
• Flight Engineer: Sgt Bertram Horace Nicholas
• Navigator: Sgt Stanley Nuttall
• Bomb Aimer: P/O John Moody Baldwin  (RCAF)
• W/Op: Sgt William Chapman
• Mid-Upper Gunner: Sgt William Lambert York
• Rear Gunner: Sgt Frank Thompson

This crew had flown on BLACK THURSDAY, 16/17 December 1943, in Lancaster JA908-OF-N. The aircraft had been badly damaged during the Berlin operation, but nevertheless landed safely at Downham Market after a heroic feat of flying which earned the pilot an immediate DFM.

From SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 7 JANUARY, 1944

The crew survived this night and many subsequent dangerous operations, but were shot down close to the end of the Battle of Berlin.

A beautiful memorial was unveiled recently at the site of the crash.

Ingrid Verhoeven and Ad van Zantvoort were the instigators of the plan for the memorial and spent half a year of hard work arranging it. The ceremony at the unveiling was a splendid one, and included relatives of the crew, representatives of the Dutch air force base at Eindhoven, the Canadian defence attaché, deputy Ambassador of the UK (Mr. Keith Allan), and representatives of NATO and the IBCC, respectively Wing Commander Toby Sawbridge and Henk van der Drift.

MEMORIAL’S FUTURE CARE

The memorial has already been adopted by the local school in Weebosch village. Every 25th March the children will clean the memorial and lay flowers of remembrance for the crew. Ad van Zantvoort’s account of the Coates crew and their loss will become part of the taught history class.

Photograph: Ingrid Verhoeven and Ad van Zantvoort