On September 19th 1944, during a supply mission, a Short Stirling LJ-647 of the 570 RAF Squadron was severely damaged by German anti-aircraft artillery over the drop-off zone near Arnhem. This resulted in a successful emergency landing at the 'Groenendijk' in Haren near Oss.
The crew, consisting of: P/O E.D. Hincks (pilot), F/Sgt R.L. Huckfield (navigator), F/Sgt H. Fletcher (bomb aimer), F/Sgt J.P. Smith (radio telegraphist), Sgt K.E. Johnston (air gunner) and Sgt C. Baker (flight engineer), as well as the air despatchers L/Cpl L. Grantham and Dvr G. Gamgee, returned via Brussels to their base in England.
Just a few months before his death, in august 2010, 'Denis' Hincks brought back his memories of this special mission. It was put on paper with the help of his daughter and... agreed to publish them.
The report of Denis Hincks gives a special insight into the experiences of a pilot, who was involved in the liberation of our country. Despite the horrors, it reads like an adventure story!
Joop Thuring illustrated the story of Hincks in 2014 and placed it in a framework of his own memories as a very young eyewitness to Operation Market Garden.
Read the full story (opent in een nieuw tabblad)
A previous version of this story was published on the website of the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum Oosterbeek (Vereniging Vrienden van het Airborne Museum Oosterbeek (opent in een nieuw tabblad); VVAM), but is no longer available there.
The author specifically wants to thank Morfeem for the help correcting and translating the text.
Editor's note: This story is a translation of a Dutch version.
Noot van de redactie: Dit verhaal is een vertaling van een Nederlandstalige versie. Het is hier opgenomen, omdat we verwachten dat er ook Engelstalige belangstellenden zijn.