1944 - Crash Landing B-17 Near Dutch City Wijk bij Duurstede (Paperback)

On 22 February, 1944, a US B-17 bomber made an emergency landing in the floodplains near Wijk bij Duurstede. All ten crew members survived the crash. Following their training, they immediately split up to avoid capture. Some were eventually taken prisoner, while others managed to go into hiding with the help of the Dutch Resistance.

Pilot 1st Lieutenant Charles D Crook sought shelter in a barn in nearby Langbroek. Through a local network, he was brought to safety by resistance member Kees Stoove, who arranged medical care and temporary hiding places. Crook later continued his journey through the Netherlands, spending months evading capture.

This extraordinary wartime story has been meticulously researched over fifteen years by amateur historian Leendert Smit. His work is based on extensive archival research, contact with surviving crew members, and correspondence with their families. His findings reveal not only the fate of the crew but also the courage and risks taken by Dutch civilians who helped them.

New details continued to emerge even decades later, including the roles of local individuals such as farmer Herman Imminkhuizen. Smit also connected with families of other crew members, reconstructing their individual wartime journeys and experiences.

Richly illustrated with photographs, maps, and documents, this book offers a detailed and human perspective on one crash and its aftermath. It highlights themes of survival, resistance, and international cooperation, preserving a remarkable local story within the broader history of the Second World War.