The story
57 Mitchell and Boston bombers of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force were sent to bomb a suspected rocket launching site in a wooded park in the Hague in the Netherlands. Some of the 69 tons of bombs meant for the site missed by as much as 500 yards, hitting the Bezuidenhout district. 500 civilians were killed and 2,000 were injured, while several thousands were made homeless. The German occupation refused to help the survivors, delaring that the "Dutch have to learn what it is like", referring to the Allied bombing of German cities of Hamburg, Dresden, and others.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.