Once in a Lifetime (Part II)

Captain Baatz and Vampin' Vera

Turning What You Love into What You Do
By Patrick J. O’Connor

Bruce Schneider from Solon has been having an amazing experience recently. He randomly learned that a small town in Belgium was hosting a celebration and dedicating a plaque to the airmen who were part of the liberation of Europe 80 years ago. His uncle George L. Baatz, Jr. was piloting the B-24H bomber that was shot down in June 1944, landing in an orchard in that small town. Bruce was invited to the ceremony. 

Part I of Bruce’s story focused on his uncle, the crew and the plane crash. Part II now focuses on the ceremony to honor Americans who helped  in the liberation which the Belgium people hold so dear. 

Belgium Village
The people in this region of Belgium have high regard for the events that occurred some 80 years ago. The area includes three cities: Coxsyde or Koksijde (Cox-eed), Wulpen and Oostduinkerke (East Dunkirk). There is great reverence for the Allied soldiers who were part of the liberation from the Nazis. The residents remember several plane crashes in Belgium and the crews that went down with them.  

This celebration was for the B24H Liberator that  Bruce’s uncle George piloted as part of the 453rd Bomb Group. Captain Baatz’s family received a phone call  after the crash with condolences from the group commander. Lieutenant Colonel James M. Stewart (AKA actor Jimmy Stewart) called them, as this was part of his role as operations officer for the 453rd Group. 

Wulpen is a small village with a population of about 600. Little has changed there since the B-24H crashed in June 1944. The people still farm as they did then. The farm and field where the plane scattered is still there, pretty much untouched by time. As he walked the field of the crash site, Bruce felt as if he was rewinding back in time some 80 years.

Cemeteries
There are numerous cemeteries in the area, with thousands buried in them. Bruce found the cemeteries to be immaculate, and visits to them were very moving. He was impressed with how everyone revered the cemeteries and honored those buried there. Most of those tending the sites are volunteer gardeners and stone masons.

The cemeteries are maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission established by Congress in 1923. The Commission operates and maintains 26 permanent American military cemeteries in 17 foreign countries. They honor thousands of war dead from WWI and WWII. The mission of the Commission fulfills the promise of General John J. Pershing that “Time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”

The Ceremony
The ceremony and dedication of the plaque was held in nearby Coxsyde, featuring several events to commemorate the crash, captain and crew.

Ten sculptures were created by local resident Guy Marteel. These were fashioned from plane debris gathered at the crash site.  

Military historian and professor Marc Demolder gave a presentation sharing photos and information on the crash and crew. Professor Demolder and his dad wrote a book about the event. The presentation also included remarks from an American Embassy representative. 

A plaque containing the names of all crew members was dedicated near a monument in the town center. Many people associated with the event attended including  the girl, now 86, who found tail gunner Gordon Adee in the field. Airman Adee’s son Jerry attended along with his son and grandsons. Appropriately, the ceremony concluded with a military flyover  while taps played.

Reflections on the Experience
Captain Baatz now rests peacefully next to his mother Katherina and father George Sr. at Acacia Cemetery in Mayfield Heights.

Bruce has visited them many times over the years. His future visits will be different now from this amazing once in a lifetime experience. He learned so much from the trip and it may take years for it to completely settle in.

On future visits, Bruce will reflect on his Uncle George the pilot, the crash, the crew, the cemeteries, and the many wonderful people he met on the  trip. Most of all, he will cherish the additional closeness he now feels with his family. He is assembling a photo album with mementos of the entire experience. He plans to share it with his family members, present and future, so they can learn of this event and his uncle, Captain George L. Baatz Jr. This will help them to also feel the closeness he now feels.