The bomb a detectorist found in Lommel (Limburg) at the weekend probably came from an American B17 bomber that was on its way to bomb Germany during the Second World War. The aircraft suffered engine trouble after being attacked by German fighter planes.
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Bomb found in Limburg probably comes from crashed US Flying Fortress bomber
Colin Clapson
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The bomb from the Second World War was found by a detectorist illegally searching a forest in Lommel. After he reported it anonymously, the army bomb squad DOVO rushed to the scene to defuse it.
The explosive was still intact, and the aircraft's mechanism was still attached.
According to the Lommel heritage association, the bomb may have come from an American bomber that crashed in the town in 1943. ‘That aircraft crashed on 12 August 1943 in Kattenbos Wood,’ says Ferdi Geerts. ‘It was a B17 Flying Fortress and the name “We ain't scared” was painted on the fuselage.’
Crashed after attack by German fighter planes
The aircraft had taken off from the UK heading for a bombing raid in Germany. But the Germans spotted the aircraft, scrambled several fighter planes and attacked the bomber. As a result, the B17 crashed. ‘Presumably, the bomb came loose and landed a little further away,’ says Geerts.
Five people were killed in the crash in 1943. ‘There was an 11-man crew. Three of them managed to escape and three were taken prisoner of war. No civilians were injured in the crash.’
According to Geerts, the person who found the bomb was very lucky. ‘DOVO had its work defusing the detonator. These are big bombs that can cause an awful lot of damage. We are fortunate that everything turned out well this weekend.’
Damage files detailing bombs already found
In archive records in Hasselt, capital of Limburg province, reports are kept of the damage people suffered as a result of bomb impacts and crashed aircraft. ‘After the Second World War, people could submit a damage claim when they cleared their land,’ explains archivist Rombout Nijssen. ‘And the Belgian state contributed to the costs of the clean-up.’
Damage files describe exactly what was found. ‘In Lommel alone, there are 500 files. So we can still find information in the archives about where bombs or aircraft were found. We can therefore compare the file on the bomb that has now been found with what already exists in the archives,’ the archivist concludes.