In het AVOG’s CRASH MUSEUM krijgt u door middel van een film en een permanente tentoonstelling een indruk van de geschiedenis van de Luchtoorlog 1940-1945 boven Nederland en in het bijzonder boven de Achterhoek.
The museum was first opened to the public in May 1981, the result of ten years of research and preparation.
Apart from being a tribute to the Allied aviators who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, this permanent exhibition provides insight into the technical aspects of the Air War 1940 - 1945. The air forces of England, America, and Germany deployed a wide variety of aircraft during the conflict. In our exhibition space, you can see components from some of these aircraft that crashed in the Achterhoek region, including aircraft engines, propellers, landing gear, wing fragments, oxygen tanks, and cockpit instruments. You'll also find items that were on board during the crashes, such as flight equipment, navigation materials (aviator maps), on-board weapons, aircraft ammunition, and radio equipment.
During World War II, approximately 6,500 aircraft crashed in the Netherlands, with about 400 of them landing in the Achterhoek. 90% of what you see in the museum has been excavated by us since 1972, while the remainder comes from private collections. Many of the crash sites for aircraft that took off from England and Germany are still unknown, and often, the crew members are listed as missing.
In addition to assisting in reducing these so-called missing persons lists, AVOG aims to preserve a piece of Achterhoek's history for the future.
The museum also continuously screens the film "The Air War Revived" (self-produced), providing a general overview of the Air War 1940-1945 over Europe and specifically over "De Achterhoek."
