Memorial

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S/Sgt Arthur E. Klemp graduated from Ripon High School in 1936 where he played for the school's baseball team. He worked in a bakery.

He enlisted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 27 July 1942.

Before reaching the target, this B-17 was already hit by a German fighter. The damage caused they were lagging behind the formation, making them easy prey to enemy fighters. Despite this, they managed to reach the target and drop their bombs.

On their way back, they were under constant attack. Over Friesland, at a height of 6 kilometers, the pilot, Robert E. Beatty gave the order to bail out. Milton Spangenberg was sent to the back of the plane to warn crew members. On the way, crossing the narrow catwalk, for some reason he fell out the open bomb bay doors. Therefore the crew in the back of the plane didn't receive the order.

When both pilots had left the plane, it was over Hallum. According to witnesses only one engine was working and the plane was leaving a smoke trail. Flying on autopilot the plane was gliding down towards the sea. Over the sea dyke it turned to the land again. But it came so low it hit the ground. When it hit the ground one of the wings broke off. The rest of the plane ploughed the ground for 200 meters, tearing the plane apart. One of the main wheels flew over the sea dyke near widow Westra’s house. The tail section stopped near a waterway.

Amongst the wreckage and scattered parts were the bodies of five crew members found. Three of them were killed and two of them were still alive.

The deceased crew members were then laid out in the barn of the farm of Douwe Annema. After release by the Germans the killed crew members were laid out in a coffin and buried by the municipality Ferwerderadiel.

S/Sgt Klemp was reburied at Margraten in October 1945.

In total five crew members were killed and five survived and were taken prisoner.

His brother, S/Sgt George H. Klemp, is also buried at Margraten.

The last two pictures were taken in high school in 1936.