Comemmoration of over 900 Flemish civilians killed by friendly fire.

[stuka f]

On the 5 th of april 1943 the German Erla airplane factory in Mortsel (primary Minerva automobile factory)was a bombing target by the Allieds.
But all bombers missed theyre target, killig over 900 Flemish civilians living in the village surrounding the factory.
I spended a great time of my life in and near Mortsel, the story has always been very ..."alive"...
Commermoration is taking place all week end long.
|<ris
Mortsel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Foto's van de bombardementen te Mortsel ( ERLA FABRIEKEN ) op 5 april 1943
"Bombardment 5th April 1943" Mortsel Travelogue by irisbe

[Gunny Hartmann]

A sad incident which i knew nothing of, thanks for posting!...

[stuka f]

The incident was only internationaly recognized somewhere around 2003, if I remember exactly.
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[CARL]

The incident was only internationaly recognized somewhere around 2003, if I remember exactly.
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You have done your part in bringing it to the attention of plenty of people here Kris, and for that you can be proud. Well done and thank you for posting the links to the commemoration of this tragedy.

Regards,

Carl

[Adrian Stevenson]

Thanks Kris.

I would echo Paul and Carl's comments.

Cheers, Ade.

[shortbuss55]

I have never heard of this. That is really sad, but at that time our bombs are not like they are now.

From Alex

[Woolgar]

A terrible tragedy Kris, thank you for bringing this to the forefront of our minds

Nick

[sandgroper]

That is a terrible tragedy, thanks for bringing it to our attention Kris.

[stuka f]

There seems to be a original pic for sale on ebay related to the tragedy;

[Feuerbach]

Friendly fire is never friendly. But these things did happen more often, and I know of some occasions in Belgium where civilians got killed by the allied bombing raids that totaly missed target.
One story that stuck in my head happend just on the Dutch - Belgian border near the village of Watervliet where the allies accidently bombed a wrong farm. I have been at the scene where it happend, and have spoken to the farmer whom was a little boy when this tradegy occurded. They had to knock out a farm wich housed generators for the German search lights, but bombed the hell out of the neighbours. Unlucky but that farm was full of refugees. Hunderds died inside the farm, burnt to death. Like I said I have been on that spot on some occassions, of course its rebuilt after the war, only a small stone reminds one of the tradegy that happend there.
Another story of the Americans bombing a wrong target in Belgium was the bombing of a tram full of refugees in the town Maldegem.