IMPACT – The Airial War in Friesland, 1940-1945

To mark the national commemoration of 80 years of freedom, the Frisian Resistance Museum will present the new exhibition "IMPACT – The Air War in Friesland, 1940-1945". From 29 March to 27 July 2025, visitors will gain an intense insight into the consequences of the air war in Friesland during the Second World War. Focusing on intimate stories and personal objects, the exhibition shares the experiences of pilots, civilians, recovery workers, and surviving relatives.

Contacts with Allied airmen left a lasting impression on many Frisians. Carefully preserved objects and stories passed down through generations bear witness to this. The exhibition tells stories of Americans wearing Frisian clogs, failed escapes, and lifelong friendships. One of these stories is about Tiny Mulder (1921–2010). Today, she is best known as a writer and poet, but during the Second World War, because of her fluency in English, the resistance recruited her to shelter downed Allied pilots.

Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden
One of the reasons Friesland became part of the air war frontline was the presence of the Leeuwarden airfield. During the Second World War, Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden was an important German base in Friesland. German night fighters took off from there to intercept Allied bombers en route to German industrial cities. This base played a crucial role in the air war and was responsible for downing at least 370 Allied aircraft. The exhibition highlights this history and shows how the airfield deeply impacted the region.

Allied Airmen and Going into Hiding
A special aspect of the exhibition is the story of Allied pilots who crashed in Friesland. About eighty pilots and crew members were helped by the Frisian resistance to find hiding places and were guided onto the ‘pilots’ escape line’ towards England. This was a highly risky operation for both the airmen and the members of the resistance. Only one successful escape is known; most were captured, while a few remained in hiding in Friesland until the liberation. Visitors will gain a unique view into the courage and perseverance of these resistance members, as well as the hidden lives of the Allied airmen in Friesland.

Civilian Casualties
The air war did not only affect the warring parties—it also had a devastating impact on civilians. One tragic example is the story of Richt Barkmeijer-de Boer and her family, who were killed by a bomb, likely jettisoned as ballast, in 1944. The exhibition shares their story and those of other civilian victims, displaying personal belongings and telling their moving histories. This part of the exhibition highlights the profound impact of the war on everyday people.

Ongoing Research
Another important part of the exhibition is the work of the Leeuwarden-based Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation (SMAMF). The foundation tirelessly works to locate and honor missing aircraft and their crews. This ongoing research remains crucial for remembering the air war in Friesland and building a connection to the present. Visitors will learn about recent recoveries and efforts to return names to lost crew members. As part of this exhibition, the website will be thoroughly updated and enriched with interactive components. Additionally, the database will be included in the exhibition and accessible in the museum.

War Stories and Collected Objects
"IMPACT" uses rare objects from the collections of the Frisian Resistance Museum and the SMAMF. These include never-sent letters left behind by Luftwaffe personnel at the Fliegerhorst, a pair of shoes recovered from a wrecked aircraft, or a jacket given by an Allied airman to the Frisian family who hid him. There’s also a Red Cross name tag that a Frisian boy had to wear to school, so he could be identified in case of an air raid.
The exhibition "IMPACT – The Air War in Friesland, 1940-1945" offers a unique opportunity to learn more about this important and often overlooked chapter of the Second World War. The Frisian Resistance Museum invites everyone to visit this poignant exhibition and reflect on the stories of courage, sacrifice, and loss that still resonate across Friesland.