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Operatie Market Garden
On September 17, 1944, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden, a large-scale offensive to recapture bridges over the Maas, Waal, and Rhine rivers and enable a rapid advance into Germany. The operation initially progresses successfully, but stalls at Arnhem: the bridge over the Rhine remains in German hands. As a result, the western part of the Netherlands remains occupied, and the war lasts longer than expected.
The Mission of the Feathered Injun
On September 18, 1944, the B-24 Liberator Feathered Injun took off from England as part of a fleet of 252 aircraft. The aircraft, under the command of 2/LT James Gerow of the 579th Bombardment Squadron, was tasked with dropping supplies at Groesbeek, where American paratroopers were fighting to maintain their positions.
Under Fire and Shot Down
Over Goeree-Overflakkee, the aircraft is hit by German anti-aircraft fire, causing one of its four engines to fail. Despite the damage, the crew completes the drop, but on the return flight, a second engine is hit. Gerow attempts to reach the already-liberated Brussels, but over Zuid-Beveland, the aircraft catches fire. Over Heinkenszand, the crew bails out, but two crew members are killed: S/Sgt. Eugene Kieras falls without a parachute, and Pvt. Edward Yensho remains behind, crashing in the Kruiningenpolder.
Captivity and Hiding
Six crew members are captured and taken to POW camps in Germany and Poland, where they remain until the end of the war. Two others manage to go into hiding with the help of the local resistance until the liberation of Zuid-Beveland at the end of October 1944.
Family Possession
The displayed propeller and machine guns were owned by the Van ’t Westeinde family for many years, who were involved in hiding the crew members. When the house was sold, these objects were transferred to Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland.