War Memorial Herpen




War Memorial Herpen - WW2Museums.com
In addition to the Halifax crew, another British soldier is named - Private Stanley Purbrick.
Google Street View




A Halifax bomber from 578 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was shot down the night of 20-21 July 1944 and crashed in Herpen, The Netherlands. The crew was killed in action.

The crew members were:
Flight Lieutenant Joseph Arthur Leo Couture, Royal Canadian Air Force, Pilot, Age 23. Couture was a U.S. Citizen;
Sergeant Walter Broughton, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Flight Engineer, Age 21;
Flying Officer Harry Sellers, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Navigator, Age 23;
Flying Officer Joseph Stanley Paul Fitzpatrick, Royal Canadian Air Force, Air Bomber, Age 21;
Sergeant Charles Alfred Morton, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Wireless Operator;
Sergeant Alan Hugh Garnham, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Air Gunner, Age 19; and
Flight Sergeant George Thomas Hodgson, Royal Canadian Air Force, Air Gunner, born 26 May 1923. Hodgson is named on the Norfolk War Memorial Carillon Tower in Simcoe, Ontario. His is the last name on the Second World War Plaque; as the preceding names are alphabetical, it appears that his name was added after the plaque was first erected.

All are buried at the Uden War Cemetery (Map)

166 aircraft - 149 Halifaxes, 13 Mosquitos, 4 Lancasters - of 4 and 8 Groups attacked the synthetic-oil refinery at Bottrop. The northern part of the target was badly damaged. 7 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster lost. 578 Squadron lost 42 crew in 6 aircraft.