Arms drop 1944 Lochem - Lochem

Near the present-day Sluitdijk, on the Grote veld in Lochem, an arms drop took place in 1944. It was then only a sparsely vegetated forest and heathland area. This made it easy on the one hand, because of the visibility in relation to the pilot and people on the ground. But was at the same time the operation's Achilles heel, as the occupying forces could also be watching. The operation was so well and secretly planned that it all went smoothly, without attracting attention.

Until the actual dropping, the Lochem resistance had to make do with cobbled-together props to pass for weapons. So there was a great need for 'real' weapons. Two dropping sites were prepared. The resistance communicated in code language with the English pilot.

The first throw-off failed, despite the signal lights on the ground being properly operated. On the second attempt two days later, the roles were reversed. A signal lamp failed to work, forcing the pilot to fly on. But half an hour later, the plane made another manoeuvre. Again, they had not got it right on the ground. Another attempt followed a few hours later. This one was successful and 17 containers with weapons on parachutes came down slowly but steadily. The resistance could more easily resist the Nazis from now on.