RNZAF Ramrod raid on Amsterdam. May 3rd 1943

[Alex van de Wetering]

Ventura AJ200 / EG-G was flying near Hoofddorp, when it was hit and a fire broke out. Sgt. Sharp gave the order to bail, but only Sgt. Gibson replied and jumped from the plane using his parachute. Unfortunately his parachute was damaged by German fire and Gibson was killed. Sharp couldn't open the escape hatch, but he was able to jump from the plane, when a piece of the plane broke off.. He quickly pulled the cord for his parachute. The plane crashed into the moat of "Fort Vijfhuizen"....one the many Dutch fortresses surrounding Amsterdam.
Eye witness accounts describe a large wave of water and mud could be seen miles away, when the plane crashed. Sharp was the only survivor and was taken prisoner.

The bodies of the other crew members were recovered and buried in Hoofddorp. The cemetery is not the cemetery near the city centre of Hoofddorp, but actually the cemetery just east of Hoofddorp and right next to the taxiway of Schiphol airport towards the "Polderbaan" runway. This is also the reason that the cemetery will eventually be removed. Hopefully the war casualties will find a proper new resting place! (apart from the 487sq crew, there are also 3 other Commonwealth graves, along with some graves of Dutch soldiers that died in 1940 while defending Schiphol)

Crew:
Pilot Sgt. J.D. Sharp
Observer Sgt. H. Gibson (RAF)
Wo ag Sgt. A. Stevens (RAF)
Air gunner Sgt. D.L. Rowland (RAF)