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War memorial to Polish and British airmen at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul

War memorial to Polish and British airmen at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul

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War memorial to Polish and British airmen at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul

Recommended by 17 hikers out of 18

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Location: Geetbets, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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Tips

January 10, 2023

Since the end of 1945 there has been a stone cross at the church of Geetbets, for Polish and British airmen as well as for fallen soldiers and resistance fighters.

The memorial commemorates the crash of the Wellington IC X9764 NZ- of the 304 “Silesian” Squadron on April 6, 1942. The Wellington fell down near the Hulsbeekstraat. All six Polish crew members were killed.

A few months later, another Polish Wellington crashed in the borough of Rummen. On the night of 28/29 August 1942, Wellington IV Z1491 GR-Z of 301 Squadron was shot down.

A third crash that is commemorated with this simple memorial is that of the Stirling III BF530 OJ-B of the 149 “East India” Squadron on July 4, 1943. This aircraft also crashed in Geetbets, also near Hulsbeekstraat.

In 2009, an additional memorial stone was unveiled at the church of Geetbets next to the existing memorial. The marble plaque was donated by Poland and commemorates in Dutch and Polish the two Polish crews who crashed in Geetbets.

Source: hangarflying.eu/erfgoedsites/monument-for-polisse-and-british-flyers-wellingtons-x9764-304-sqn-en-z1491-gr-z-301-sqn-stirling-iii- bf530-oj-b-149-sqn/

Translated by Google •

Jeff S

June 18, 2023

Memorial stone next to the entrance of the church...

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Dries

May 4, 2025

War memorial in honor of the fallen pilots.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 70 m

Weather

Today

Sunday 9 November

13°C

6°C

20 %

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Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

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Location: Geetbets, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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War memorial to Polish and British airmen at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul

1. Path Along the Gete River – Terlenen Castle loop from Geetbets

2. Path Along the Gete River – Terlenen Castle loop from Grazen

3. Geetbets Watermill – Path Along the Gete River loop from Grazen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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