Halifax NP719 Memorial, Nørreskov Forest, Als

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NP719 was one of fourteen 432 Squadron aircraft on the Kiel raid of 15/16 September 1944. Returning in darkness over the Baltic and southern Denmark, it collided with Halifax MZ915 of 466 Squadron RAAF at 01:05 hours over Als island. Both aircraft came down in or near Nørreskov forest. All fourteen airmen across the two crews were killed.

Danish civilians, led by local forester Angelo, recovered remains from the forest and formed a burial mound marked with a propeller blade. A Danish Army NCO School personnel member, L. Larsen, documented the scene. The dead were formally buried at Aabenraa on 18 September 1944, then disinterred in August 1946 for reburial under British Commonwealth War Graves arrangements at Aabenraa Cemetery.

The forest site passed into local memory. Annual ceremonies on 16 September became an established tradition — the flensted.eu.com Danish airwar database, which is the most detailed primary source for Danish crash sites, records these observances. The 75th anniversary in 2019 prompted the installation of new memorial stones.

Local Danish civilian tradition maintained for over 75 years. Annual 16 September observances in Nørreskov forest, civilian-led. flensted.eu.com and airmen.dk document the site. Danish Army NCO School personnel documented the original recovery. New memorial stones installed for the 75th anniversary in 2019.

Do you know of any commemorative events or annual services held at this memorial? We would love to hear from local communities who remember.