In February I received a request from Mark Hakvoort of Hollands Kroon, in the Netherlands. Their goal is to remember the
aircraft and crews perished there during World War II. You can learn more from their website here
Hakvoort wrote: “We are searching for the grave of the USAAF pilot and his family at the Lassen Cemetery. B.A. Pollard was killed in action on 9 April 1944 in the Wadden Sea. His aircraft crashed / ditched in the cold sea water. The body of Pollard was washed ashore near the village of Hippolytischoef. His plane was the P-51B Mustang code 43-6761 C3-R. In the war he was buried at the “Zandburen Cemetery”. After the war his body was moved to the US assembly cemetery in Margraten. And later again moved back to the USA and re-buried at the Lassen Cemetery in Susanville. [in 1949]”
We were fortunate enough to locate several Pollard’s relatives. As a matter of fact, he has a niece still residing in Susanville.
On October 5, 2024, the Dutch held remembrance for Pollard. About 50 people attended, Ten Dutch veterans saluted to show their respect for the fallen comrade. The Mayor Mrs Rian van Dam and the USAAF representative Colonel Juris Jansons unveiled the remembrance post. There was a wreath laying ceremony, followed by the playing United States national anthem.
A job well done.
Tim
