The preparations for the recovery of the British bomber Short Stirling are already in full swing. Within a few weeks, the first shovel will actually go into the ground. This is the first aircraft to be salvaged according to the national salvage programme.

Information evening 2 September
During the recovery, the Air Branch of Explosive Clearance Group B.V. from Wijchen, led by the recovery officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Major Aalberts, will search for the mortal remains of four missing crew members and for three thousand-pounders (bombs), which are presumably still at the crash site of Lilbosch Abbey, the landowner. The salvage operation will take about three weeks and will start with an information evening for local residents and interested parties on 2 September at 19.30 in the Cultuurhuis Edith Stein on the Plats in Echt.

Visiting days at the Lilbosch location
The public has the opportunity to visit the disposal site on 28 September from 14.30 to 18.00 and on 5 October from 10.00. The 'Stichting Berging Stirling W7630' supports the municipality during the whole process and guides the surviving relatives during their visit to Echt-Susteren. The 'Op Vleugels der Vrijheid' Foundation will pay special attention to the crew of the Stirling W7630 MG-M during its annual remembrance ceremony for fallen pilots on September 28th this year.

In the photo you can see from left to right Marleen Jennissen (Chairman of the Stirling W7630 Foundation), Henk Maessen (Chairman of the Op Vleugels der Vrijheid Foundation), Abbot Dom Malachias and councillor Peter Pustjens. They are working in close consultation to steer this project in the right direction.

Photo and text taken from: www.echt-susteren.nl (August 2019)