Adrian van Zantvoort

This is an email sent to our Chairman, Bob Middlemiss on November 27, 2012

My name is Adrian van Zantvoort and I live with my family in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. During my free time and since the early ninties I have researched Bomber Command aircraft crashes over the SouthEastern part of Holland. I have built up an archive in which there are over 250 files with all kinds of information such as details about the aircraft, her crew, the operation, accounts of witnesses and ex-crewmember interviews. Further I am a collector of Bomber Command flying clothing and equipment, navigational items, escape items and everything about the Bomber Command air gunner. I have been many times to the UK to visit old Bomber airfields, ex-crews and relatives of crews.

A few years ago I started to research the fate and loss of two Halifax bombers shot down 21/22 June 1943 from 158 RAF Squadron and the next night 22/23 June 1943 from 427 RCAF Squadron over Kaathoven (Berlicum, Holland). The 427 Squadron aircraft shot down was Halifax DK141, ZL-N piloted by 22 year old F/Sgt J.D. Hamilton (RCAF). The Halifax took off at 23:24 for an operation against Mulheim. About 02:00 the Halifax was intercepted by a German Nightfighter and shot down near Kaathoven which is 10 miles east of Den Bosch in Holland. Six of the crew were killed and only one crew member, Sgt. J.A. Spencer survived to be captured and made a POW. I am in touch with the relatives of Navigator Jack Reansbury,RCAF, Bomb Aimer Gerald Sharp,RAF and Mid-Upper Gunner F/Sgt Gordon Tyrone, RCAF. Also a few weeks ago I went to the site where both aircraft crashed and found some debris of the aircraft. I think it was the debris of the 158 Sqadron Halifax, HR735 because the aircraft exploded in midair. Two of the relatives of the HR735 crew who are still missing sent me a letter if I can have a monument near the spot where both crews died. I have wrote two months ago to the town council of Maasdonk if there is a possibility to create a memorial.

We are now two months further and I am very far with my progress of a Memorial. I would like to invite you or another representative of the 427 Squadron Association to attend the memorial ceremony. This will be 22 June 2013. You will receive an official invitation by me and the town council when the memorial is definite. I don't know if you have access to any records of 427 Squadron such as ORBs so if you have more information please let me know. Regards and I am looking forward to hear from you soon, Adrian van Zantvoort/The Netherlands

Adrian had also negotiated a superior discount at the Hotel Nuland for all who attended as well as along with Councillor Rini van de Ven hosted a reception on Friday evening for attendees. Bob Middlemiss was unable to attend so Wayne & Beth MacLellan were in France at the time and were able to attend as Association representatives with his concurrance.