The exhibition at the visitor centre has been enriched by a very special artefact. On 15 August 1973, Breguet Atlantic 257 made an emergency landing at sea near Wassenaar. The aircraft’s steering system had failed, making a return to Valkenburg too dangerous. After the ditching, the 257 was towed to Den Helder and subsequently scrapped. The control yoke of the co-pilot, Sergeant Major Gerrit Ekhart, has been preserved and was in the possession of his son Hans. He has loaned the control yoke to the exhibition.

The steering wheel was officially handed over to the foundation by Hans Ekhart on 28 March. This took place in the presence of Roel Bonder, who was on board the 257 that day as a radio technician. Also present were Kees Leebeek and Arie van der Hout, both members of the Atlantic community of 321 Squadron in the 1970s and 1980s. A few years ago, they investigated the accident, its true (concealed) cause and the aftermath, and wrote a book about it. The gentlemen gave those present a detailed account of their research.

On the left in the photos, Hans Ekhart hands over the steering wheel to SHVV chairman Marco Borst (photo by Diederik Wurtz). On the right is the display case in which the steering wheel is housed. The model of the 257 at sea was made by Gerrit Sterken.