Den Helder, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
RAF North Coates Strike Wing Memorial (Vliegers Monument)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 2, 2026
1. RAF North Coates Strike Wing Memorial Marker
This memorial commemorates pilots and navigators whe served with No's 143, 236 and 254 squadrons of the Royal Air Force during World War II from 1943 to 1945.
Operating with Bristol Beaufighter aircraft. Armed with cannon, torpedo and rockets, they inflicted heavy shipping casualties denying freedom of the sea for supply purposes, for the Nazi German forces and war industry with particular emphasis along Dutch coastal waters, including many attacks in or around Den Helder harbour.
Many aircraft were lost and 241 aircrew from Great Britain and the Commonwealth and allies gave their lives flying with the RAF North Coates Strike Wing.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1945.
Location. 52° 57.75′ N, 4° 45.782′ E. Marker is in Den Helder, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is on 2e Vroonstraat, on the right when traveling north. The memorial is easily accessible from the street and also from the small
this page online
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 Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Huis aan zee / House by the sea (about 210 meters away, measured in a direct line); Leo Pinkhof (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Monument voor de Bombardementslachtoffers / Bombardment Victims Memorial (approx. 2.1 kilometers away); Batterij Begraafplaats / Battery Cemetery (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Monument Joodse Begraafplaats / Jewish Cemetery Memorial (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Monument De Walvis / Huisduinen Whaling Memorial (approx. 2.7 kilometers away); Slag bij Kijkduin (21 augustus 1673) / Battle of Texel (August 21, 1673) (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); Rampspoed in het verleden / Disaster in the Past (approx. 4.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Den Helder.
Also see . . . RAF North Coates (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
In September 1942 it became the base for the North Coates Strike Wing formed from 143, 236 and 254 Squadrons, flying the Bristol Beaufighter as a heavy fighter, bomber and "Torbeau" torpedo bomber variants, to attack enemy shipping in the North Sea. The first operation of the Strike Wing took(Submitted on June 30, 2026.)place on 20 November 1942 when Beaufighters from 236 and 254 Squadrons, the latter led by Squadron Leader Gage Sise, took off to attack a convoy of twelve to sixteen ships heading towards Rotterdam. The weather was poor, the squadrons lost contact with each other and the convoy was protected by Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters. Only three enemy ships were damaged but three Beaufighters were shot down and four so badly damaged that they crashed or made forced landings. The Strike Wing was promptly withdrawn from service for intensive training, during which time, between November 1942 and early 1943, the east-west concrete runway was laid.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 2, 20262. RAF North Coates Strike Wing MemorialThe memorial is visible here situated directly above a separate but related memorial for RAF Officers E.F.V. Kidd and H.G. Stevenson.
It was not until 18 April 1943 that the Wing launched its second operation, when nine "Torbeaus" of 254 Squadron, six Beaufighter bombers of 236 Squadron, and six Beaufighter heavy fighters of 143 Squadron, with Supermarine Spitfires and North American P-51 Mustangs providing air cover, attacked a heavily escorted convoy off the Dutch coast. While the Beaufighters attacked the escort vessels with bombs, machine-gun and cannon fire, the "Torbeaus" attacked the largest merchant vessel. In the attack two M-class minesweepers were set on fire and an armed trawler was also damaged. Two confirmed torpedo strikes were made on the merchant vessel, which was left listing and on fire. The co-ordinated attack lasted only 15 minutes and only slight damage was sustained by two or three aircraft. Another operation at the end of the month resulted in the sinking of two merchant vessels and a trawler, with damage to several escort ships, for the loss of one Beaufighter. In June the Strike Wing began to use the RP-3 rocket projectile and by the middle of the year had, along with the minelayers of Bomber Command and the Royal Navy's Nore Flotilla, rendered the Port of Rotterdam almost unusable. Ship captains bringing in iron ore from Sweden began to demand bonuses of up to 300 per cent for risking their ships. By the end of the year the Strike Wing had sunk thirteen ships totalling 34,076 gross register tons and by the end of the war in May 1945 had sunk over 150,000 tons of shipping, as well as two U-boats; U-418 in the Bay of Biscay on 1 June 1943 and U-2338 off the Danish coast on 5 May 1945. They had also lost 120 aircraft and 241 aircrew.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
