Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[MicS]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

While I was there, I also visited the Bevrijdingsmuseum itself, as I had only been there once a few years ago, and that was when the current buildings were still under construction. First of all, I would say it’s definitely worth a visit if you happen to be in the area and have an interest in military history and/or WWII equipment.

Second, Kees took me up to the offices and storeroom, as he had some photographs he thought might interest me. After a fair while looking for them in vain, it turned out they had already been sent to the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies for digitisation and to be entered into their collection (the originals will come back to the Bevrijdingsmuseum), so I didn’t get to see them yet. However, I did come across the following couple of pictures that I thought might be of interest here (quality is not great, as I took photos of them with my iPad and then had to push and pull them to straighten them out a bit).

Two wrecks of Weasels at (almost certainly) Westkapelle:

Attachment 124609

Two Terrapins somewhere on Walcheren:

Attachment 124610

LVTs on the Markt square in Middelburg, two of them carrying Weasels in the cargo bay:

Attachment 124611

Nice finds Jakko.


First photo probably shows the same two Weasels as on this shot:

NL-HaNA_2.24.01.03_0_900-7400 - Overturned Weasels.jpg
Source


Last photo is the same as BBZ 66478, but less cropped on the left side (and more on the right):
LVT4 1B 'STOAT', 1C 'SABLE' USA{89xx36} - Middelburg 6 Nov 44 - FO066478.jpg
Source

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by MicS

First photo probably shows the same two Weasels as on this shot:

It does look like that, yes. Now to try and find the exact spot they were in …

Originally Posted by MicS

Last photo is the same as BBZ 66478, but less cropped on the left side (and more on the right):

This one was actually a postcard. Or maybe I should say, a photo printed on paper that has postcard markings (lines for the address etc.) printed on the back.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

… and it’s back!

IMG_8057.jpg IMG_8058.jpg IMG_8072A.jpg IMG_8072B.jpg IMG_8075.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Excellent Jakko! Great to see this project finished in good time.

See https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/...-weer-compleet for some more pics and videos.

2BF4E4E0-08F5-48D4-A728-ACEE997DA037.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The freshly restored Sherman T-148656 back in situ at the WW2 memorial on the Westkapelle dyke. The grey sky backdrop makes for a fantastic photo.

D0286E4B-D181-4044-A90A-A45C4417739F.jpeg
Photo by Jan de Jonge - see https://www.facebook.com/10000867471...243584973/?d=n) and https://jandejongefotografie.nl/de-weke-op-wasschappel/

[Jakko Westerbeke]

I just keep thinking: “I wish I had a WRENCH, adjusting, idler,” though …

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

I just keep thinking: “I wish I had a WRENCH, adjusting, idler,” though …

Definitely…

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The freshly restored Sherman T-148656 back in situ at the WW2 memorial on the Westkapelle dyke. The grey sky backdrop makes for a fantastic photo.

Yesterday Storm Eunice raged over The Netherlands. I saw some footage of the Sherman on the dyke: it's feet got wet as water flooded over the crown of the dyke! That's what a combination of high tide and storm does - must have been some tense moments in the village of Westkapelle.

Attached picture shows the dyke looking in the other directiom, away from the Sherman:

images0.persgroep.net.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Found this photo of the transmission data plate, I think Jakko posted it somewhere:

IMG_7680.JPG