Last Monday evening was the day: the information meeting of the community Echt-Susteren where interested parties could learn about the steps that will be taken to salvage the Short Stirling that crashed in Pey, near Lilbosch Abbey in Echt in September 1942.

The information evening, which was organised in Cultuurhuis Edith Stein, was started by salvage officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Major Bart Aalberts. He gave a picture of the course of the planned activities and the way the disposal site will be set up. At the crash site of the Short Stirling, the remains of four crew members who died are expected to be found alongside ammunition that could still be in the vicinity of the aircraft. Captain Hans van der Zwet of the EOD therefore gave a detailed explanation of the possible explosives that could be found in the wreckage and how they would be removed if found.

Finally, the floor was given to project leader Coen Cornelissen of ECG Air Branch, the division of Explosive Clearance Group in Wijchen that deals with the specialist work that aircraft salvage naturally involves. In his closing words, Coen Cornelissen gave an inspired explanation of the salvage operation and went into more detail about its purpose and importance, as well as the approach and duration. This explanation was received with great enthusiasm. It can be said that everyone is looking forward to the salvage period with great curiosity. A period that more or less started on Monday evening.