FOREWORD
During the Second World War our country became the grave
for about 7000 aircraft. In the beginning of the war those who were killed in
action, were buried with militairy honour by the Germans. Later the Germans
called them "terror-flieger" and the honour was left undone. But the
chief-inspector of Rusthof, Evert Jansen, took care about a honourable funeral
with the British flag.
An aircraft often crashed in the IJsselmeer, after which
a few members of the crew washed ashore along the coast. Lots of them are buried
here as unknown:
Altogether 238 men, who were killed in action, are buried
at Amersfoort (Old Leusden) General Cemetery. They came from the British Common Wealth, Poland, Belgium and
France. Lots of crew members remained missing. There names are printed on the
British monument in Runnymede.
After the war a lot of aircraft-wrecks were found and the
mortal remains could be often identified. For many relatives the uncertainty
ended. There was a grave.....
Hereby we have to mention the splendid job done by the
salvage-service of the Royal Netherlands Airforce under the leadership of
salvage-officer G.J. Zwanenburg from Baarn and the grave-service under the
leadership of adj. A. van der Graaf from Ermelo. They gave certainty to the
relatives.
This register tries to give you a survey of all the crew
members, who are buried at Rusthof, and their aircraft.
Leusden, 1st September 1994
