Lieutenant Charles M. Pollock – Co-Pilot. Escaped.
On September 19th, 1944, C-47 42-24127, belonging to the 76th Squadron 435th Troop Carrier Group, was en route to Son in the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden. The aircraft was hit by heavy anti-aircraft, small arms and 20mm fire from the ground, and crashed near to Kasterlee. The pilot Lt. John W. Hesketh and his Radio Operator Staff Sergeant Martin M. Worobrow tragically lost their lives. Fortunately the rest of the crew managed to bale out. The aircraft was towing a glider that was quickly cut loose, enabling it to make an emergency landing near the Corsendonk priory in Oud-Turnhout. THE CREW OF C-47 42-24127 included: First Lieutenant John W. Hesketh DFC – Pilot. KIA Lieutenant Charles M. Pollock – Co-Pilot. Escaped Staff Sergeant Martin M. Worobrow – Radio Operator. KIA Sergeant Nicholas Brooks Turner – Flight Engineer. POW. After his escape, Pollock was taken care of by people from Vorsel and the Kluis and hidden from the Germans in a hut against the Tikkebroeken. The memorial was dedicated in 2019. For more information of this event, see the Wings Museum, site Balcombe.