bombing of the barn, my Dads story

sorry i should have mentioned that earlier but yes the name of the farm IS Graslanden! do you have a link to where you found that? i would love to look into it. thanks so much for your hard work on this, that's great!

 

i just used google earth and i found it southwest of Berlin, approx 130 miles.
approx 242 miles south east of Groningen.
does that help?

 

Hi Bigfun, the link to the pic is Dorpsbelangen Ten Post en omstreken - Dorpsnieuws maart 2007
I have written the Historical Society with the information you provided, and asked where they get the date 11/11/42.

I will let you know when I hear from them.

Erich, thanks for that interesting information. I had no idea, but should have. The NJ boys were well overstretched as one can make out. You must admire their tenacity and dedication against these odds.


More as I get it...

 

ok just an update, i have the day off so i spent the morning looking thru some old photos, and i found the originalbarn photo, it has a hand-written date of "11 October 1941", now i'm really confused!!!!!

 

Hi Bigfun, this is the beauty of research.....it always chances!!!!

Is october spelled out or is the date 10/11/1941?? or 11/10/1941?

A quick scan teaches me that I have no information on these dates about shootdowns in my sources.

 

yes, it is interesting finding investigating these things! the date is actually spelled out like this, ...11 October 1941...... my fahter is trying to contact his relatives in Holland to see if they have any insight. it's very strange thought isn't it!

 

Fw. Ney shoots down 1 Hapden over Harlingen for his 5th victory
Leutnant Hahn shoots down an Oxford ? over Grantham.

now it appears some activity over Holland on the night of 12/13 October 1941 and also the following night with NJG 1 being involved with some 6 claims made but it maybe more.

E

 

well i just looked up Harlingen, and it is approx. 54 miles west and just a little south of Tem Post, so i guess if he was heading to England, that vould be the one. don't they carry only like 4 bombs? that is about the number my dad thought they had dropped.

 

It all depends on the size of the bomb. Fighters could carry 4 250lb bombs (I think), or 2 500lb bombs. A Light bomber like the Mossie could carry 4 500lb bombs. Does your Dad remember how big the explosions where?

 

no he doesn't really, he just remembers that it was dark and cold, but how big could the bomb have been if it hit the barn and only blew up that section of wall? also, Stevin, any word on the bomb that hit the bridge and did not detonate?

 

Well im startin to think it could have been Fighter, four 250lb Bombs? probably a Typhoon or Something.

 

Ah, no, Bigfun. I think it will take a few days/weeks before they get back to me. I had to do this by snailmail....

I feel, if it was night, early morning, it was not a fighter, as I haven't read about single engined fighters doing night sorties of this kind (i.e ground support role...although the fact that I haven't read about it doesn't mean it didn't happen of course).....maybe a mossie. Certainly if this was in 1941 or 1942. In that case we can definitely rule out a fighter, I think...Just on account of them not being able to fly that far...

If it was in spring 1945....well, then it could have been.....Need some digging here.....First of all establish a date...

 

ok, i will wait for your reply, meanwhile i am going to interview my Aunts and Uncles. thanks again for all your help!!

 

btw i should say thank you to all for the great input here! my Dad is very interested in hearing what we learn from this, and also it has gotten him to open up about more of the things he experienced during the war. So thank you very much to all of you, Fred, Erich, Stevin, Slon, Slip and Joe!

 

I'd like to add a finis to this story but cannot until as you stated : interview more relatives. 1942 ? 1945 ? or >>>>>>>>>>> ?

 

well, i almost got to speak to my Dad's older brother today but i could not meet him! also i emailed the site that Stevin gave me, and they responded very quickly I hope to hear more soon!

 

that is great Big Fun! I wrote the Ten Post Historical Society but haven't heard back from them. I hope you get a quicker response! I look forward to what they say!

 

I must say that this is one of the most interesting threads i've ever seen on this forum!

 

it is interesting isn't it! thanks Joe!

this is like the mystery of the Ten Post bombing! i'll post here as soon as i get something!!!!