Aalsmeer, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
‘Hells Fury’
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 12, 2024
1. ‘Hells Fury’ Marker - text
13 December 1943
555 Bomb Sq 386 Bomb Gp (M)
Raymond P Sanford
Raymond C Roberts
Charles A Jackson
Sloan B Peterson
William E Turner
Robert M Becker
Herbert M King
De ‘Hells Fury’ wordt tijdens een bombardement op Schiphol door een granaat getroffen, een vleugel wordt met motor en al van de romp gereten, de Marauder B-26 schiet als een komeet omlaag en in een uitbarsting van vuur niet ver van hier te pletter Alleen Piloot Sanford overleeft
During a bombing raid on Schiphol, the ‘Hells Fury’ was hit by a shell, a wing and engine were torn from the fuselage, the Marauder B-26 shot down like a comet and was destroyed in a burst of flames not far from here. Only Pilot Sanford survived.
Erected 2011 by Stichting Crash.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is December 13, 1943.
Location. 52° 16.528′ N, 4° 48.115′ E. Memorial is in Aalsmeer, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is at the intersection of H. Buismalaan and J.E.e. Bekkerstraat, on the left when traveling east on H. Buismalaan. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Aalsmeer, Noord-Holland 1432 PT, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: De Oude Smidse / “The Old Smithy” (approx. 7.1 kilometers away); Sint Urbanuskerk / St. Urbanus Church (approx. 7.2 kilometers away); Kerkbrug/Korte brug / “Church Bridge”/“Short Bridge” (approx. 7.2 kilometers away); Bakkerij Out / Out Bakery
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Aalsmeer, 'Hells Fury' (Oorlogs Graven Stichting, in Dutch).
Excerpt (in translation): The monument was unveiled on May 4, 2011 by Consul General of the United States of America, Mrs. Julie E. Ruterbories, Mayor Pieter Litjens, Joop Kok (designer of the memorial) and Peter de Raaf (chairman of the Stichting Crash).(Submitted on July 14, 2024.)
2. Aalsmeer, Dec. 13, 1943 - Martin Marauder B-26 ‘Hells Fury’ (crash40-45.nl, in Dutch).
Excerpt (in translation): The US Eighth and Ninth Air Forces, based in England, flew the largest number of bombers in a single day up to that date. A total of 1,462 aircraft went to various targets: including Kiel, Bremen and Hamburg in Germany and Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.(Submitted on July 14, 2024.)
219 bombers, all B-26 Marauders, had a bombing mission to Schiphol airport. The GermanLuftwaffe used it as an active combat base and had to be eliminated. Each aircraft had 4 bombs of 1000 lbs GP on board. Schiphol was very heavily defended by the Germans. More than 120 anti-aircraft guns or FLAK were positioned around and in the Schiphol area.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 12, 20242. ‘Hells Fury’ Marker
Capt. Sanford flew his 'Hells Fury' in the third and final wave of the attack into the Lead Box in the No. 4 position. At about 7 km. of the target, the German FLAK focused entirely on this last group.
Many B-26 Marauders suffered damage during the most critical and important moment of the attack, the so-called bomb run (the minutes before the bombs were to be dropped), but the 'Hells Fury' was hit by a FLAK hit in the left wing, causing it to break off. This caused the aircraft to turn on its back and explode shortly afterwards. The B-26 fell to the ground in pieces, the larger fuselage section ended up on farmer Blom's land.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 12, 2024
3. ‘Hells Fury’ Marker - wide view
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 234 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 14, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
