This was in the news in Holland: Rijk trekt 15 miljoen euro uit voor zoektocht naar stoffelijke resten in oorlogsvliegtuigen. In the link maps with locations of downed aircraft with missing aircrews. There are 501 known crash-locations with a total of about 1085 missing crewmembers: Welke oorlogsvliegers worden in uw omgeving nog vermist? See also: 1085 vermiste oorlogsvliegers mogelijk nog in Nederlandse bodem
Stolpi - Interesting!! In the past when the local councils were required to contribute a third of the cost of these recovery operations they found numerous reasons why such projects should not go ahead. Now I’m told that because the Government is fully funding the recovery they are climbing over each other to be in the front of the queue. Still a very nice gesture by the Dutch Government and I hope that it will lead to the recovery of many more missing aircrew and give their families a final closure.
John - I also hope this will lead to the speedy recovery of more missing, but I'm afraid it will not be enough, as the article says: "It is expected that with the 15 million euros made available, it will be possible to salvage thirty to fifty war wrecks in the coming period". The Dutch Study Group Air War 1939-1945 has drawn up a so-called "promising list". The Air Force salvage service will start using this data … sadly there still remains a lot to do.