Salvage of B-24H s/n 42-7638 "Big Banner"

[Hanno Spoelstra]

"A moved Charles Taylor visiting the recovery in 1975."

"Copilot Charlie Taylor (left) sees his plane again after 32 years. Next to him salvage officer Zwanenburg, 1975."

That was an emotional affair for him, because after 32 years he saw his plane again. And he knew at that moment that his mates were still in it. He hasn't seen them. The wreck had not dried up. We had to build an entire sand dam and a large excavation pit to extract the remains of five men. And then we pulled the box to shore with the help of tanks. But he has been with us when we were busy emptying that cockpit a bit. He didn't see any remains himself, I didn't want that. All he said was, "Oh boy, oh boy." I think he was aware of the fact that his mates still had to be in it.

Also see https://www.flevolandsgeheugen.nl/pa...landing-on-the to read part of Charles Taylor's recollection of the crash.

CharlesTaylorB24H42-7638in1975.jpg zwanenb29_1_rechts_jan_van_hillo.jpg()(8C835A4A9A6F08391540A585C665B8D2).jpg
Source: https://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/148.html and https://www.flevolandsgeheugen.nl/pa...oland.-deel-14