Memorial

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T/Sgt Milton C. Spangenberg attended high school for 2 years and was a fireman. He enlisted in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on 29 August 1942.

Before reaching the target, this B-17 was already hit by a German fighter. The damage caused they were lagging behing 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.

T/Sgt Spangenberg's was sent to the rear of the airplane to tell the crew to bail out. On the way he must have fallen through the open bomb bay doors. His parachute didn't open in time. He landed in a pasture near the Koopmansweg in Zwaagwesteinde. On the 16th he was buried at the cemetery of this village. The villagers were not allowed at the cemetery, they stood in the neighborhood. During the ceremony they started singing the Dutch national anthem. A German soldier got furious and fell into a waterway while the crowd cheered. The villagers later placed a stone on the grave. On the 8 th November he was reburied in Margraten. There still is a war memorial in the Schoolstraat where Spangenberg is remembered on. He was reburied at Margraten on 8 November 1945.

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

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

He was initally buried at the cemetery of Zwaagwesteinde on 16 December 1943. Civilians who wanted to attend the funaral were not allowed in the cemetery by the Germans. During the funeral, the population began to sing the Wilhelmus. An enraged German jumped into a ditch to great hilarity. Later, the locals placed a tombstone on the grave as a tribute. On 8 November 1945, Spangenberg was reburied in Margraten. His name is mentioned on a memorial in the Schoolstraat in Zwaagwesteinde.