Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Now to see when we can visit

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

Now to see when we can visit

Indeed, let's see if we can find any remnants of the serial number!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Follow the restoration of the Sherman V here:

https://www.bevrijdingsmuseumzeeland...n-tank-v-m4a4/

During the restoration of the Sherman V, a temporary sign has been placed in situ to inform visitors of the restoration. The sign also has a link to the website linked above.

132525886_403315184204908_1347188155628642490_n.jpg 132258903_1292265587795142_955609780074777650_n.jpg 132550706_786749408545710_5992942405516135717_n.jpg 132653942_216639420085583_3338902930057081273_n.jpg 132196168_394686201784653_3793155398767838451_n.jpg

[Ed Storey]

I like the way you guys do things, from the tank restoration through to the signage and website, very professional.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

During the restoration of the Sherman V, a temporary sign has been placed in situ to inform visitors of the restoration.

Heh, I came here to post pictures of that too It was supposed to be a full-size version, but that would have cost too much. This one is scale 1:3, and I’m glad to see Ivo (of the Polderhuis museum — the building with the solar panel roof in the second photo) took my advice to have the “5” removed from the turret

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

Heh, I came here to post pictures of that too It was supposed to be a full-size version, but that would have cost too much. This one is scale 1:3, and I’m glad to see Ivo (of the Polderhuis museum — the building with the solar panel roof in the second photo) took my advice to have the “5” removed from the turret

Hi Jakko, by all means share your pictures here. The one above were sent to me by Ivo.
Good to see they are taking advice from someone who has researched Operation Infatuate II and the vehicles in depth

[Jakko Westerbeke]

I have those same photos, Ivo mailed them to me too, so I thought I’d share them here, only to find them already up. You saved me the trouble

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Bas Rijk (69) and Hans Mulder, two volunteers of the Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland are making great progress on dismantling the Sherman of Westkapelle. The are pensioners who spend two days a week on restoration and they plan to have it restored in time for the annual commemoration on 1st November this year.

Read more at https://www.pzc.nl/walcheren/bas-en-...dijk~adad0d5d/

Bas en Hans restaureren de Shermantank 2.jpg Bas en Hans restaureren de Shermantank 3.jpg

Bas en Hans restaureren de Shermantank 4.jpg Bas en Hans restaureren de Shermantank 1.jpg

Bas en Hans restaureren de Shermantank 6.jpg

See the full album here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...07840542628251

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Let me add this photo that you haven’t seen before:

T148656 July 1954.jpg

It dates from July 1954, according to the caption on the back in old-fashioned handwriting, and was clearly taken when the tank was next to the old war museum in the Leitstand bunker. The most interesting bit to me is how clearly visible the registration number is inside the stowage bin — based on a photo from a few years later I had assumed it had been painted over and become visible again when that paint wore away, but you can tell very clearly here that this wasn’t the case.

There’s also a second, almost identical photo with six rather than two kids on the tank.