Retired Recruit

Dear members,

Iam Jaap Vermeer from Nijkerk, The Netherlands. For 40 years an Airwar researcher of Allied aircraft crashes in Europe.
Member of the AirWar StudyGroup Holland and writer of the book '' From Dutch to Dutch ''. Honored for my work by the Queen-mum as an Member of the Dutch Empire. Former member of AAF.com
Working in several projects on the globe in special cases.

When members need information about aircraft crashes, Market Garden,Dutch Resistance,SOE & SAS Operations in Holland,please send me an PM.
Iam a member of FOLD3 and Newspapers.com, so when you want an article,don't hesistate and ask. Iam glad to assist.
Wishing you all the best and dont forget, Remember all those young heroes, we will remember,

with much greatings from Holland,

Jaap Vermeer MDE

 

Welcome to the Forums Jaap, It is fantastic to have an expert on any aspect of the war here, I would like to thank you for you and your countries dedication to preserving and honoring America's fallen soldiers in Holland, along with other allied forces. You have my respect and full support.

 

Thank you for your welcome. Such a young men like you,interested in this somethimes difficult hobby.
On the US Cemetery Margraten,Holland, I have adopted the grave of an American Flyer,who was KIA, February 10th 1944 in Germany.
Also an American pilot who is commemorated at the Wall of Missing. Every year I visit the gravestone and the name and placing a photo
so all can see who these young men were.

Let Freedom Ring

Adopted graves : 2/Lt. Denis J. Alison, MIA
ALISON, Denis J

And 2/Lt. Paul A. MacWilliam, KIA
MAC WILLIAM, Paul A

 

Thank you Jaap, That is very kind and thoughtful of you to adopt the grave's of those young men. From the few veterans I have spoken too who fought in Holland, they say the Dutch were some of the nicest and loving people they had ever met. Along with the Allied soldiers who lost their lives in Holland, I greatly respect and appreciate the resistance the Dutch put up against the German invaders and occupiers, along with their fight against the Japanese in the Pacific. Even though they did not succeed in repelling the German forces, they put up a fight well worth remembering and praising for centuries to come.

 

6000 Resistance workers were killed by the Germans. 105.000 Jews were deported. And a lot Dutch were deported.
We don't Forget,but we will forgive the Germans. A have a lot of German friends and there is still a shame by them.

 

Your nation paid a high price....and while your suffering may have been at the hands of the Germans, it's great to know that there has been a 70 year period of peace in Europe because of your's and others ability to forgive.

 

Welcome to the forums!

 

Thank you and welcome!

 

Jaap

Welcome aboard and many thanks for your generous offer of help.

Ron

 

I feel extremely lucky to have visited your country over a very long period of time thanks to my job as well as interest. I have always found a kindness, hospitality and caring there and the notion of adopting a grave is very noble but not surprising. Years ago, 40+, I had a paperback that was about the discovery of WW2 aircraft discovered when parts of the IJsselmeer were drained for polderland. In spite of my fondness for it time separated us ! Do you have any recollection of such a book. My memory is poor but seems I recall near 1000 crash sites were discovered, some beyond the Ijsselmeer. Would love to find a copy.

I decided I wanted to follow the route of XXX Corps, my long-suffering family showed great patience, as well as the places of Market Garden. Good reason to visit the countryside, a great plus.

So glad you have decided to join us.

Gaines

 

Thank You Gaines,I hope to find my way to this forum. Iam living close to the former Zuiderzee,lets say 8 miles.In 2014 we drove with our WWII Military vehicles the
Market Garden Tour, a part of the route, XXX Corps took. An great experience. Last year I sold my Willys Jeep because I was to bissy on my company.
But you never know,our son want to start in 2018 our new project,so will see. Enclosed some information.
In September 2016 I receive an invitation to be at the Memorial of the Polish Wellington of Lemmer. The Lancaster made a Low-Past over the crashsite.

Jaap

Noordoostpolder | Stichting Ongeland
Crash locations IJsselmeer | Zuiderzee
Identificatie Vickers Wellington vastgesteld - Urk in Oorlogstijd
Introduction air war - NOP in oorlogstijd


And so we honored the fallen

 

Dear Jaap,

Really glad to have you here.

I remember when I was younger, Iranian tv had shown a serie (or mini serie, IDK) about a group of resistance fighters who rescued downed allied pilots.

In Persian, it was called ارتش سری or ARTESH serri, Secret Army.

سریال ارتش سری - قسمت یازدهم

And also, 2 questions:

Is there any book about Dutch Army formations and order of battle during ww1 and ww2 ?

If there are any free download books or sites / forums about this subject, please send link.

Also I'm looking for books that are a collection of memories of soldiers and resistance fighters, if there is any, please send me a link too.

 

We should thank you for all this good information through the links as well as your post. I am amazed at the sheer manpower and machinery used to recover the remains of the Wellington. That large, to me, steel cofferdam, including a lift !, to allow the seabed to be excavated is impressive. The will to do so even more so.

Len Deighton's historical novel "Bomber" covers this area exceedingly well..

I remember the Dutch returned the USS Cole to Mississippi using a heavy lift ship and did the same returning the Kursk to the Russians.

Gaines

 

Tirdad, I know this serie about Obersturmbannfuhrer Kessler. These were the French Resistance.
Holland was not involved in WW I, we were neutral. May 10th 1940,Holland was captured by the Germans ;

De bange meidagen van 1940 - Digibron.nl
De meidagen van 1940 | G/Geschiedenis
Grebbelinie.nl - Home
www.niod.nl | Instituut voor oorlogs-, holocaust- en genocidestudies
Verzetsmuseum | Gewapend verzet

Jaap

 

Gaines,strange guys these Dutch.Such a little country with such experts. Our son is an Merchant Navy Officer.They want all these young men over the globe because of their knowledge. Together we Served,

Jaap

 

Welcome aboard. Like to see new members of any kind but those who both know a lot and are willing to share are especially nice to see.

 

hi,

Thank you.

Is there such serie about Netherlands?

And thank you again for links.

 

In Holland is an Musical called '' Soldaat van Oranje '' ( Soldier of Orange ), 2.5 millioen people saw it and next year its their 6 year to bring this musical.
I wasn't there, I hate musicals.

Soldaat van Oranje - De Musical | Officiële website en ticketverkoop

Jaap

 

Tirdad Derakhshani fro Iran,is that you ?

 

first name is me, last name, not.