Hi All, went to a very interesting presentation about the "Deelen Dump" last night, where at one time about 35.000 mostly canadian (used) Vehicles were amassed.
This took place at the Aircrash museum, adjacent to Deelen airfield, where the vehicle dump was located from 1945 to 1947. there were lots of very rare pictures and a 10 minute film, about the vehicles, the presentation went about the background of the various deals going on, and the incredible stealing and pilfering that went on during the 2,5 years of operation of the dump, with and without knowledge of the people who ran the camp, and even after a 1000volt electrified fence was put up!!
Also a former workman spoke briefly about his time there, and how parts were smuggled out under the guards noses, and sometimes up to 5 whole trucks at the time!!
Also stories, which I had heard before from ex workmen there, years ago, resurfaced, and went from crushing HD WLC's with a sherman tank, to riding WLC's into a bomb crater, and jumping of at the last moment, and see who got his furthest into the hole!!!
There was also a big insight about the financial picture, and how much the vehicles cost at the time, and how they were evaluated etc. etc. all this info is owned by the museum.
Many items that were dugup on the site are also on display, but most is left on site, as who wanted hundreds of Canadian built lathes, which filled up one bomb crater???
If anyone is interested in this, I highly recommend to visit the museum, when in the neighborhood, they show the little film there aswell, alas not for sale.
here a link to the museum, could not find an english language button?
http://www.museumvlbdeelen.nl/index-1.html
Cheers,
Lex Schmidt