Pic: Wim Govaerts
One year ago last weekend, a bronze plaque was unveiled on the edge of a quiet wood near the little town of Haldern in Germany. It is a memorial to the seven men in the crew of AJ-E, who took off from RAF Scampton on the Dams Raid on 16 May 1943, and who died at this spot when their aircraft collided with a power line and crashed.
The memorial was the initiative of Volker Schürmann and his colleagues in the Haldern local history society. Those of us who were present remember it with affection and gratitude, and look forward to continuing the friendships formed on that day for many more years to come.
Dambusters Blog 
I was there… one year ago and also today. You are right,Charles: It’s a quiet and peaceful place. It was a nice gesture of Volker and all the others to place a memorial at that spot. Now two benches are placed for walkers and bikers to take break and think about the men who crashed there.
I wasn’t there a year ago but I hope to visit that quiet wood and catch up with Volker when I go to Poland in January 2017 for my son’s wedding.
You are welcome Graeme!
We were there, it was a beautiful service and just wonderful to see so many people from the local community, partaking and in attendance, together with others, including many relatives who had travelled from around the globe. Could not make it this year but very happy to hear that the banner of the crew was raised again for the anniversary.
Can anyone tell me where it is in Haldern please? Thankyou