Het Commonwealth oorlogskerkhof van Leopoldsburg telt 799 graven, waarvan 16 niet geïdentificeerde gesneuvelden. Daarbij zijn 27 Poolse militairen van de 1st Poolse Tankdivisie en 4 Nederlandse militairen. Er werden 109 Royal Air Force gesneuvelden begraven waarvan 1 Nederlander van 320 Squadron, en twee manschappen van The Parachute Regiment.
Op 9 februari 1945, 20 minuten na het opstijgen van Melsbroek voor een bombardement op Geldern in Duitsland, botsten twee Mitchells van 320 Squadron met elkaar in de omgeving van Tienen. Wrakstukken van de gecrashte Mitchells kwam verspreid over een grote afstand ten noorden en oosten van Tienen terecht. Van de negen bemanningsleden, vier in de ene Mitchell en vijf in de andere, waren er slechts twee overlevenden.
Aan boord van Mitchell II FR165 NO-K was 2Lt Vl Wnr Johannes Hendrikus ‘Jan’ Maas (piloot), 2Lt Wnr Gerard Claasen (copiloot), Sgt Vltg Sch Dirk Herman Jacob Born (boordschutter) en Sgt Vltg Sch Hendrik Harsevoort (boordschutter). De twee piloten konden nog uitspringen met hun parachute; de twee boordschutters overleefden de crash niet.
In de andere Mitchell II FW212 NO-J was de bemanning: Off Vl 2kl Adriaan Manschot (pilot), Off Vl 3kl August Karel ‘Guus’ Knapp (copiloot/navigator), Off Zwnr 2kl Thijs Martinus Emous (navigator/boordschutter), Sgt Vltg Telegr Armand Lodewijk Diets (radio-operator/boordschutter) en W/O Robert Maxwell Wilson (Gee-H operator). De volledige bemanning kwam om het leven. Piloot Manschot kon zijn vliegtuig nog met een parachute verlaten maar werd dood teruggevonden met zijn parachute niet volledig geopend.
De overleden bemanningsleden werden oorspronkelijk begraven op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats van Fosses-la-Ville. Na de oorlog werden de meesten overgebracht naar Nederland. Diets, Harsevoort en Knapp hebben een grafsteen op het Nationaal Ereveld Loenen, ten zuiden van Apeldoorn. Hun grafstenen dragen de vermelding ‘In memoriam’ wat blijkbaar uitzonderlijk is en waarschijnlijk betekend dat het geen graven zijn maar memorials. De bommenwerpers hadden een volle bommenlading aan boord en van minstens een wordt de crash beschreven als een explosie bij de inslag.
Manschot en Emous werden herbegraven op de Algemene Begraafplaats Rusthof te Amersfoort (waar ook F/O Gendebien van 349 Squadron begraven is).
Sergeant Vliegtuigmaker schutter Dirk Born en W/O Robert Wilson werden overgebracht naar het Leopoldsburg War Cemetery van de CWGC (graven VIII.B.1 en 2).
Via deze link kan u nog veel meer en gedetailleerde informatie terugvinden over deze twee vliegtuigen en hun bemanning:
http://aircrewremembered.com/1945-02-09-loss-of-mitchells-fr165-maas-and-fw212-manschot.html
Op deze begraafplaats werden bemanningsleden begraven van twee Halifaxen die net over de Belgische grens in Frankrijk neerkwamen. In de nacht van 17 op 18 december 1944 vlogen Halifax III serial LV818 code ZA-F van 10 Squadron en Halifax VII serial NP699 code QO-O van 432 Squadron uit voor een bombardementsopdracht naar Duisburg. Boven Rocroi in Noord-Frankrijk kwamen ze met elkaar in botsing en stortten neer op het grondgebied van de gemeente Taillette. De enige overlevende was de piloot van NP699, F/O Max Krakovsky RCAF (pil) (J/26685); hij kon uitspringen en landde in het Belgische Bruly.
In Halifax LV818 kwam de volledige bemanning om het leven: F/L Geoffrey D. Body (piloot, nog steeds vermist) (100086), F/L Noel C. Tatam (co-piloot) (39695), Sgt Esmond Nicholson (boordwerktuigkundige) (1057527), F/O John H. Waldron (navigator) (156776), P/O William H. Leese RCAF (bommenrichter) (J/92069), F/O Douglas J. Mole (radio operator) (168506), Sgt Kenneth F. Matthews (boordschutter) (1065498), Sgt William E. Mawson (boordschutter) (2210542).
De lichamen van P/O Leese, Sgt Matthews, Sgt Mawson en F/L Tatam werden onmiddellijk gevonden en begraven op het Amerikaans militair kerkhof van Fosses-la-Ville bij Namur. In 1947 werden ze overgebracht naar Leopoldsburg. In 1945 werd het lichaam van F/O Waldron met twee bemanningsleden van NP699 en nog een niet geïdentificeerd bemanningslid gevonden. Waldron werd begraven te Taillette en ook F/O Mole werd daar begraven toen zijn lichaam in 1948 ontdekt werd.
De bemanning van Halifax NP699 bestond uit: F/O Max Krakovsky RCAF (piloot) (J/26685), P/O Michael J. Boylan (boordwerktuigkundige) (187754), F/O Robert L. Cann RCAF (navigator) (J/36389), F/O Gordon D. Wilson RCAF (bommenrichter) (J/37726), P/O Alfred G-W. Blayney RCAF (radio-operator) (J/90837), F/S Stanley E. Zadorozny RCAF (boordschutter) (J/95483), F/S James W. Green RCAF (boordschutter, nog steeds vermist) (J/95292).
De lichamen van P/O Blayney en P/O Boylan werden bijna onmiddellijk gevonden en begraven, net zoals die van LV818, te Fosses-la-Ville en in 1947 overgebracht naar Leopoldsburg. Begin 1945 werden ook de lichamen van F/O Cann, F/O Wilson en een niet geïdentificeerd lichaam gevonden en begraven te Champigneul, departement Marne, Frankrijk. Ze werden later overgebracht naar het Canadeese kerkhof van Dieppe. In 1951 werd het lichaam van F/S Zadorozny gevonden te Sévigny-la-Forêt, ten zuiden van Taillette en begraven te Choloy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France.
Op 14 januari 1945 ondersteunde 223 Squadron een bombardementsmissie naar Grevenbroich, net voorbij Mönchengladbach. Een van hen was Liberator VI TT336 6G-R. Op de terugweg werd de Liberator geraakt, misschien door Geallieerd luchtafweergeschut (zoals gesuggereerd in het squadron dagboek) maar waarschijnlijker door een vijandelijke nachtjager en vloog in brand. In het zomernummer 2012 van het magazine ‘Confound and Destroy’, het tijdschrift van de RAF 100 Group Association kan het relaas lezen van die enkele minuten in de brandende Liberator.
Het vliegtuig brak in twee stukken, een deel viel net ten zuiden van waar nu de autosnelweg Antwerpen-Luik in Meerhout voorbij komt, het tweede deel viel zeven kilometer verder naast het Albert Kanaal. Er waren drie overlevenden: de piloot F/L G. ‘Tim’ Noseworthy, de navigator F/O Geoffrey R. Palmer RAAF en de linkerzijluikschutter Sgt John Mellers maar ze waren alle drie gewond en Palmer overleed nog dezelfde dag aan zijn verwondingen. De rest van de bemanning kwam om het leven: Sgt Arthur L. Evens RCAF (R/185896) (co-piloot), Sgt Robert Hartop (1880568) (flight engineer), F/S William A. Gray RCAF (R/233012) (rugkoepelschutter), W/O John G. Galley DFM (751913) (special operator), W/O Robert E. Ralph (934263) (special operator), F/O Frank A. Mason (143659) (staartschutter), F/L George Trail (130716) (radio-operator), F/S Donald K. Clark RCAF (R/207938) (rechterzijluikschutter). Allen, inclusief F/O Palmer, zijn begraven op het CWGC Leopoldsburg War Cemetery.
In de nacht van 28 op 29 september 1944 was Mosquito VI NT179 van 21 Squadron op de terugweg van een opdracht naar Duitsland. De bemanning bestond uit F/O George D. MacLeod RCAF (piloot) en F/O Alan C. Wiggins (navigator). Ze werden aangevallen en neergeschoten door een Mosquito NF.17 van 219 Squadron die hen voor een Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88 aanzag. De Mosquito viel op het gehucht Wolfshaegen van Neerijse, piloot en navigator kwamen daarbij om het leven en werden ter plaatse in een berm van de Koestraat begraven. Op 12 augustus 1946 werden ze overgebracht naar het Leopoldsburg War Cemetery.
James MacLeod, de broer van de piloot, publiceerde in 2012 een boekje over zijn zoektocht naar het hoe en waarom van de dood van zijn broer onder de titel ‘Identification: Friend Or Foe. Death by Friendly Fire, Discovered Sixty-Two Years Later’ (Trafford Publishing, 2012). Ook Dirk Vander Hulst publiceerde over deze gebeurtenis twee artikels in het Huldenbergs Heemblad, o.a. naar aanleiding van de berging van een motor van Mosquito NT179 in 2007.
Tegelijk met deze Mosquito-bemanning werden ook twee manschappen van The Parachute Regiment herbegraven te Leopoldsburg. WOII Percival John Moss en Private John McAndrew, beiden van het 13th (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.) Bn, werden zwaargekwetst op 3 januari 1945 bij de gevechten in Bure (zie afzonderlijke beschrijving in de database over de gedenktekens aan de kerk van Bure/Tellin). Ze overleden op 4 januari 1945 en werden aanvankelijk begraven op de begraafplaats van Saint-Servais bij Namur.
BARBER, Flight Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), ALBERT ROY, 1458414. 467 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 11th May 1944. Age 21. Son of Albert Edward and Edith Kate Barber, of West Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire. II. E. 8.
BARON, Flying Officer (Pilot), EDGAR HAROLD, 149632. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 22. Son of Benjamin John and Edith May Baron; husband of Joyce Pamela Baron, of Tottenham, Middlesex. VIII. A. 15.
BASSETT, Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), CHARLES DAVID, 1819449. 115 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st January 1945. Age 19. Son of Walter and Elizabeth Ann Bassett, of Ilam, Staffordshire. Coll. grave VIII. C. 9-16.
BEASLEY, Flying Officer (Pilot), JOSEPH RONALD, J/23867. 416 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 24th December 1944. Age 24. Son of John and Susan Beasley, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; husband of Margaret Irene Beasley, of Ottawa. VII. A. 10.
BENNETT, Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), ARTHUR, 1893800. 625 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd April 1945. Age 20. Son of Arthur and Annie M. Bennett, of Irvine, Ayrshire. I. B. 3.
BENNETT, Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), KENNETH, 2214378. 218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st January 1945. Age 20. Son of Ernest and Edith Emma Bennett; husband of Mavis Helen Bennett, of Stanningley, Yorkshire. VIII. D. 15.
BINGHAM, Warrant Officer (W. Op./Air Gnr.), JOHN MICHAEL, 941122. 207 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 12th September 1944. Age 23. Son of Sydney 0. and Annie K. G. Bingham, of Shirland, Derbyshire. VII. E. 13.
BLAYNEY, Pilot Officer (W.Op./Air Gnr.), ALFRED GOODMAN-WELLS, J/90837. 432 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 18th December 1944. Age 27. Foster-son of Frederic C. H. and Beatrice Louise Blayney; husband of Hazel Isobel Blayney, of Little Shemogue, Westmorland Co., New Brunswick, Canada. VIII. B. 7.
BOOTH, Flying Officer (Air Bomber), JOSEPH DONALD, 148926. 115 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st January 1945. Age 35. Son of William Scorgie Booth and Gertrude Booth; husband of Barbara Annie Booth, of St. Anne’s, Bristol. Coll. grave VIII. C. 9-16.
BOYLAN, Pilot Officer (Flt. Engr.), MICHAEL JOSEPH, 187754. 432 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 19. Son of Thomas and Henrietta Boylan, of Motherwell, Lanarkshire. VIII. B. 11.
BRIAN, Flying Officer (Nav.), EDWARD JOSEPH, J/29586. 207 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 12th September 1944. Age 27. Son of Michael Edward and Blanche M. Brian, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. VII. E. 12.
BROCHU, Pilot Officer (Pilot), VICTORIEN ARMAND GILBERT, J/88814. 441 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 28th October 1944. Age 22. Son of Rosa Brochu, of Ste. Marie de Beauce, Province of Quebec, Canada. VIII. A. 2.
BROWN, Warrant Officer (Air Gnr.), ALEXANDER, D F M, 658085. 156 Sqdn. Royal Air Force. 3rd February 1945. Age 25. Son of Robert and Clementina Clarke Brown. VII. E. 5.
BROWN, Pilot Officer (Pilot), PETER ROBERT DUNCAN, 88403. 50 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd June 1941. Age 19. Son of John Duncan Brown and Hilda Frances Brown, of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. V. C. 11.
BUTLER, Pilot Officer (Pilot), ALEXANDER HUGH ORMONDE, 185370. 137 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 20th September 1944. Age 23. Son of Lt.-Col. A. H. Butler, Indian Army, and of Mrs. S. Butler, of Kensington, London. II. A. 8.
BUTTRUM-GARDINER, Sergeant (Air Gnr.), EDWARD PERCIVAL, 1851287. 218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st January 1945. Age 23. Son of George Edward and Dorothy Ethel Buttrum-Gardiner, of Oxford VIII. D. 18.
CARTAN, Flight Sergeant (Nav.), FREDERICK PAUL, R/190906. 425 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 15th October 1944. VI. E. 18.
CARTER, Sergeant (Air Gnr.), LESLIE THOMAS, 1866694. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 21st November 1944. Age 19. Son of Thomas and Emily Carter, of Stanmore, Middlesex. VIII. A. 9.
CASSINI, Flying Officer (Air Bomber), CARL WINSTON, 154240. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 22. Son of Peter Cassini, F.R.S.A., M.B.S.D., and Iris Cassini, of Bandra, Bombay, India. B.Sc. (Edin.), A.R.I.C. VIII A 17
CHAPMAN, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), GORDON LAWRENCE, 110639. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 21st November 1944. Age 27. Son of Frederick Percy Lees Chapman and Ethel Mary Chapman, of Slough, Buckinghamshire; husband of Annie Brumwell Chapman. Asst. Scoutmaster. VIII. A. 13.
CHEETHAM, Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), GEORGE THOMAS, 951748. 50 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd June 1941. Age 22. Son of George Thomas Cheetham and Alice Louisa Cheetham, of Tong Park, Yorkshire. V. C. 9.
CLARK, Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), DONALD KENNETH, R/207938. 223 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 14th January 1945. Coll. grave IV. D. 9-12.
CLARK, Sergeant (Air Gnr.), JOHN DAVID, 1853346. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 21st November 1944. VIII. A. 8.
CLEMENTS, Flight Sergeant (Nav.), HUGH, R/186020. 218 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 1st January 1945. VIII. D. 16.
COCKBAINE, Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber), MICHAEL WILLIAM, 1600118. 51 Sqdn:. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 21st November 1944. Age 21. Son of Harold William and Kathleen Ann Cockbaine, of Swanage, Dorsetshire. VIII. A. 12.
COLLIER, Flight Sergeant (Pilot), THOMAS PHILLIPS, 1551018. 625 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd April 1945. Age 22. Son of Harry Boyer Collier and Mary Collier, of Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire. I. B. 6.
COOKE, Flying Officer (Pilot), DAVID CLIFFORD, 162972. 207 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 12th September 1944. Age 31. Son of the Revd. David Cooke and Clara A. Cooke, of Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire; husband of Kathleen Cooke. VII. E. 14.
COOPER, Leading Aircraftman, ERNEST WILLIAM LAURIE, 539921. 15 Sqdn. Royal Air Force. 12th May 1940. Age 20. Son of William Laurie Cooper, and of Ethel May Cooper, of Bedminster Down, Bristol. VII. A. 12.
DAVIES, Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), ARTHUR HENRY, 1435786. 207 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 12th September 1944. Age 21. Son of Arthur W. and Emily E. Davies, of Shoreditch, London. VII. E. 11.
DIVITCOFF, Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.), ALEXANDER, R/209473. 434 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 18th December 1944. Age 21. Son of Thomas and Antina Divitcoff, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. VIII. A. 18.
DONNELLY, Flight Sergeant (W. Op./Air Gnr.), JOHN TODD, 643184. 50 Sqdn. Royal Air Force. 2nd June 1941. Age 22. Son of Michael and Agnes Donnelly, of Glasgow. V. C. 10.
DUNN, Pilot Officer, LESLIE WILLIAM, 414928. Royal Australian Air Force. 22nd May 1944. Age 22. Son of Vincent Gabriel and Lorna Alice Dunn, of Hendra, Queensland, Australia. Coll. grave 5. C. 1.
EVANS-EVANS, Flight Lieutenant, ROLAND GWYNNE, 123750. 2804 Sqdn. Royal Air Force. 2nd October 1944. Age 30. Son of Anthony Arthur and Margaret Ann Evans-Evans; husband of Hilda Evans-Evans, of Stilton, Huntingdonshire. VI. D. 16.
EVENS, Sergeant (Pilot), ARTHUR LESLIE, R/185896. 223 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 14th January 1945. IV. D. 7.
EWINGTON, Sergeant (Air Gnr.), EDWARD GEORGE, 1883514. 625 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd April 1945. Age 19. Son of Arthur James Ewington and Lucy Ewington, of Luton, Bedfordshire; husband of Jean Ewington. I. B. 2.
FENWICK, Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), JOHN EDWARD WILLOUGHBY, 1850790. 115 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st January 1945. Age 20. Son of Henry Fenwick, and of Sarah Fenwick, of Gosport, Hampshire. Coll. grave VIII. C. 9-16.
FRANKISH, Pilot Officer (Pilot), CLAUDE RANDOLPH, 40616. 15 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 12th May 1940. Age 25. Son of Ernest Hay Frankish and Florence Mary Frankish, of Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand; husband of Marjorie Frankish. VII. A. 14.
FRENCH, Flight Lieutenant (Nav./Bomber), KENNETH HERBERT, 168800. 156 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd February 1945. Age 24. Son of Ellis Victor d Margaret Elsie French, of Trimley St. Martin, Suffolk. I. B. 10.
GALLEY, Warrant Officer (W. Op./Air Gnr.), JOHN GEORGE, D F M, 751913. 223 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 14th January 1945. Age 26. Son of John and Georgina Galley, of West Hartlepool, Co. Durham; husband of Kathleen Galley, of West Hartlepool. Coll. grave IV. D. 9-12.
GILSON, Flying Officer (Pilot), VERNON BEVERLEY, J/26151. 408 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 2nd November 1944. Age 22. Son of Percival Willard Gilson and Doris Gilson, of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. VIII. A. 5.
GOWAN, Flying Officer (Air Bomber), RONALD BURTIS, J/29680. 207 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 12th September 1944. Age 21. Son of Burtis Clark Gowan, and of Mabel M. Gowan, of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada. VII. E. 15.
GRAY, Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), WILLIAM ALEXANDER, R/223012. 223 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 14th January 1945. IV. D. 10.
GRIVELL, Flying Officer, ROBERT GARFIELD, 417578. 218 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Australian Air Force. 1st January 1945. Age 20. Son of Walter and Edna Grivell; husband of Thelma Dulcie Grivell, of Verdun, South Australia. Joint grave VIII. D. 19-20.
HALL, Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), ROBERTS, 1457899. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 23. Son of Robert Hall, and of Alice Hall, of Irlams-o’-th’-Height, Salford, Lancashire. VIII. A. 19.
HARTLEY, Sergeant (Nav.), JOHN LEONARD, 954358. 128 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 17th September 1944. Age 24. Son of Harold Balque Hartley and Maggie Hartley, of Wrenthorpe, Yorkshire. VII. E. 10.
HARTOP, Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), ROBERT, 1880568. 223 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 14th January 1945. Age 29. Husband of V. M. Hartop, of Porthcawl, Glamorgan. IV. D. 6.
HILDEBRAND, Warrant Officer (Air Gnr.), HAROLD WILLIAM JOHN, 1383970. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 24. Son of Harold Albert Edward and Rosamond Hildebrand, of Streatham, London. VIII. B. 4.
HITCHEN, Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), ROY CHALLINOR, 2203456. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 20. Son of Cecil William and Constance Hilda Hitchen, of Upton, Cheshire. VIII. B. 3.
HODGSON, Pilot Officer (Pilot), PHILLIP BOOTH, 83725. 50 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd June 1941. Age 24. Son of Jane Hodgson, of Hartford, Cheshire. V. C. 8.
HOLDEN, Sergeant (Nav.), RICHARD, 1671139. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 27. Son of Richard and Sarah Ann Holden, of Rochdale, Lancashire. VIII. A. 16.
HUTSON, Warrant Officer (W.Op./Air Gnr.), LESLIE JAMES, 41590. 156 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force. 3rd February 1945. Age 23. Son of George William Hutson and of Emma Mabel Hutson (nee Taylor), of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand; husband of Pauline Joyce Hutson, of Invercargill. VII. E. 4.
INESON, Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.), ALLAN CLIFFORD, J/93699. 408 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 2nd November 1944. Age 19. Son of George William F. Ineson, and of Lucy Kathleen Ineson, of Kitchener, Ontario. Canada. VIII. A. 4.
JANZEN, Pilot Officer (Flt Engr.), LESLIE HOMER, J/94289. 434 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 18th December 1944. Age 24. Son of Peter and Marie Janzen, of Erwood, Saskatchewan, Canada. VIII. B. 14.
JONES, Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.), HUGH BRENTON, 1866363. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 18. Son of Frederick John and Dorothy Constance Jones, of Ilford, Essex. VIII. B. 5.
KEEL, Sergeant (Air Gnr), ROYSTON ELVIN, 1809996. 218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st January 1945. Age 20. Son of Bertie Owen Keel and Ellen Keel, of Felbridge, Surrey. VII. D. 17.
KEMP, Corporal, STANLEY HERBERT, 932918. 2804 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 29th December 1944. Age 24. Son of George Dalziel Kemp and Emily Tomeina Kemp, of New Cross, London. VIII. B. 12.
KITE, Flying Officer (Pilot), GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM, J/87906. 10 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 23rd September 1944. Age 22. Son of George R. and Janette B. Kite, of Rapid City, Manitoba, Canada. VII. E. 19.
KURTZHALS, Pilot Officer (Air Bomber), ALLAN EDWARD, J/94600. 434 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 18th December 1944. Age 24. Son of Alexander and Mabel Kurtzhals, of Salmo, British Columbia, Canada. VIII. B. 17.
LASCELLES, Flying Officer (Nav.), JOHN HENRY, D F M, 144444. 156 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd February 1945. Age 33. Son of Edwin Thomas Lascelles and Madeline Eliza Lascelles; husband of Evelyn Martha Lascelles, of Brockley, London. VII. E. 3.
LEESE, Pilot Officer (Air Bomber), WILLIAM HEWISON, J/92069. 10 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 18th December 1944. Age 20. Son of Robert Vernon Leese and Mary Adeline Leese, of Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. VIII. B. 10.
LEWIS, Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), NEVILLE ERNEST, 429464. 51 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Australian Air Force. 21st November 1944. Age 20. Son of Ernest James Lewis and Ethel Lewis, of Selma Siding, Queensland, Australia. VIII. A. 11.
LLOYD, Flying Officer, RICHARD OWEN, 401979. Royal Australian Air Force. 3rd November 1944. Age 21. Son of Robert Owen and Loma Dorine Lloyd, of Hampton, Victoria, Australia. II. D. 15.
LONG, Pilot Officer, GORDON DAVID, 435171. Royal Australian Air Force. 1st January 1945. Age 19. Son of Percy Edward and Elva Jane May Long, of Hawthorne, Queensland, Australia. Coll. grave VIII. C. 9-16.
MACLEAN, Lieutenant, MALCOLM HAMILTON MURRAY, D F C, 414311. Royal Australian Air Force. 5th March 1945. Age 27. Son of Hector Albert and Flora Maclean; husband of Sarah Beverley Maclean, of Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia. VI. D. 18.
MACLEOD, Flying Officer (Pilot), GEORGE DEWAR, J/22008. 21 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 29th September 1944. Age 22. Son of L. George and Marion L. MacLeod, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. B.Com. (Dalhousie University). VI. E. 2.
MASON, Flying Officer (Air Gnr.), FRANK ARTHUR, 143659. 223 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 14th January 1945. Age 22. Son of Henry John Mason and of Mabel Beatrice Mason (nee Knowles), of Morden, Surrey. Coll. grave IV. D. 9-12.
MATHISON, Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.), EARL DONALD, J/90601. 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 1st January 1945. Age 27. Son of Donald Covert Mathison and Erma Beatrice Mathison, of Bounty, Saskatchewan, Canada. Coll. grave VIII. C. 9-16.
MATTHEWS, Sergeant (Air Gnr.), KENNETH FORSHAW, 1065498. 10 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 23. Son of Samuel and Maggie Matthews, of Wigan, Lancashire. VIII. B. 8.
MAWSON, Sergeant (Air Gnr.), WILLIAM ERNEST, 2210542. 10 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. VIII. A. 20.
MILLS, Squadron Leader (Pilot), ANTHONY ALAN FRANK, 118465. 115 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st January 1945. Coll. grave VIII. C. 9-16.
MILNE, Pilot Officer, JOHN JOSEPH, J/89413. 207 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 12th September 1944. Age 30. Son of James and Elizabeth Milne; husband of Edna Theresa Milne, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. VII. E. 17.
MOONEY, Flying Officer (Flt Engr.), LAURENCE, D F M, 53786. 156 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd February 1945. I. B. 11.
MORRISON, Sergeant, DONALD, 1569430. 625 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd April 1945. Age 33. Husband of Mary Morrison, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. I. B. 1.
MOXLEY, Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.), WILBUR LEE, J/90227. 207 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 12th September 1944. Age 19. Son of Lee Nathaniel and Edna Catherine Moxley, of Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. VII. E. 16.
MacFADYEN, Sergeant (Air Bomber), COLIN, 1550855. 44 (Rhodesia) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 22nd May 1944. Age 21. Son of Colin and Christina MacFadyen, of Spean Bridge, Invernessshire. Coll. grave V. C. 1.
McINTOSH, Sergeant (Air Gnr.), JAMES KERR MURDOCH, 3020834. 625 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd April 1945. Age 19. Son of James and Elizabeth Fell McIntosh, of St. Boswells, Roxburghshire. I. B. 8.
McLEOD, Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.), JOHN WILLIAM, J/95353. 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 1st January 1945. Coll. grave VIII. C. 9-16.
OLAFSEN, Warrant Officer Class II (Air Gnr.), GORDON WILLIAM, R/192540. 434 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 18th December 1944. Age 22. Son of Guttorm and Barbara Olafsen, of Steveston, British Columbia, Canada. VIII. B. 16.
PALMER, Flying Officer, GEOFFREY ROBERT, 415820. Royal Australian Air Force. 14th January 1945. Age 22. Son of Cecil George and Valentine Grant Palmer, of Claremont, Western Australia. I. B. 14.
PARROTT, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), JAMES MURRAY, J/21253. 434 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 18th December 1944. VIII. B. 15.
PEARCE, Flying Officer (Nav.), SAMUEL HENRY JAMES, J/27505. 434 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 18th December 1944. Age 28. Son of Frank Harold and Margaret Wilson Pearce, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; husband of Mary Elizabeth A. Pearce, of Red Deer, Alberta. VIII. B. 18.
PECKETT, Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), LESLIE, 1615706. 218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st January 1945. Age 21. Son of Dorothy Peckett, and stepson of Leslie Chamberlain, of Winfarthing, Norfolk. Joint grave VIII. D. 19-20.
PINNY, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), JOHN ANTHONY HURST, 129145. 313 (Czech) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1st February 1945. Age 24. Son of Horace George and Nellie Maud Pinny, of Wootton, Northamptonshire. Military Cross (Czechoslovakia). I. B. 13.
PORTER, Warrant Officer (Nav.), WILLIAM ALFRED, 427544. 51 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Australian Air Force. 21st November 1944. Age 32. Son of William Dagger Porter and Florence Lillian Porter; husband of Juanita May Porter, of Victoria Park, Western Australia. VIII. A. 10.
RALPH, Warrant Officer (W. Op./Air Gnr.), ROBERT EDWARD, 934263. 223 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 14th January 1945. Age 24. Son of William Edward and Agnes May Ralph, of Garlinge, Margate. IV. D. 5.
REAUME, Flying Officer (Air Bomber), LOUIS JOSEPH, J/35091. 408 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 2nd November 1944. VIII. A. 3.
ROBERTS, Sergeant, EDWIN GEORGE, 563483. 15 Sqdn. Royal Air Force. 12th May 1940. Age 26. Son of Edwin Frank and Florence Roberts, of Christchurch, Hampshire; husband of Eva Ellen Roberts. VII. A. 13.
SAUNDERS, Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), ALEXANDER GRAY THOMAS, 1117296. 10 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 23rd September 1944. Age 22. Son of Thomas T. and Jemima Saunders, of Baillieston, Lanarkshire VII. E. 20
SHELDON, Sergeant (Bomb Aimer), GEORGE JOSHUA, 1491267. 625 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd April 1945. Age 21. Son of George Pryce Sheldon and Frances Annie Sheldon, of Winwick, Lancashire. I. B. 12.
SHEPPARD, Flight Sergeant (Pilot), KENNETH ROBERT WILLIAM, 1332395. 102 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 25th June 1943. VIII. A. 1.
SMITH, Pilot Officer (Pilot), WILLIAM REVELER, 190551. 102 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 8th February 1945. Age 32. Son of Roger and Elizabeth Smith, of Staithes, Yorkshire. I. B. 9.
SOLLY, Pilot Officer (Pilot), CHARLES JOHN, 173799. 207 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 22nd June 1944. Age 22. Son of Frederick Arthur and Charlotte Mary Solly; husband of Dorothy Jean Solly, of Romford, Essex. VI. E. 5.
SOUTHERN, Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), JAMES, 941962. 44 (Rhodesia) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 22nd May 1944. Age 26. Son of James and Elizabeth Ellen Southern, of Thornaby-on-Tees, Yorkshire. Coll. grave V. C. 1.
SPINLEY, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), MAURICE, D F M, Mentioned in Despatches, 411466. 156 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force. 3rd February 1945. Age 22. Son of Charles William Spinley and of Emma Margaret Spinley (nee Jordan), of Wellington, New Zealand. VII. E. 2.
STAPLES, Flying Officer (Nav.), DONALD ANDERSON, J/35924. 408 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force. 2nd November 1944. Age 25. Son of John T. and Jean M. Staples, of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. VIII. A. 6.
STERLING, Pilot Officer (Pilot), JOSEPH DARCY KEITH, 421540. 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force. 1st January 1945. Age 23. Son of Joseph and Jeannie Lamberton Sterling, of Matakohe, Auckland, New Zealand. Coll. grave VIII. C. 9-16.
SWALES, Major, EDWIN, V C, D F C, 6101V. 582 Sqdn. South African Air Force. 23rd February 1945. Age 29. Son of Harry E. and Olive M. Swales, of Durban Natal, South Africa. VIII. C. 5. The citation in the London Gazette of 20th April, 1945, gives the following detail: Major Swales was the `master bomber’ of a force of aircraft which attacked Pforzheim on the night of 23rd February, 1945. Over the target the aircraft was repeatedly attacked by an enemy fighter and severely damaged, two engines being put out of action. Major Swales remained to issue aiming instructions until he was satisfied that the attack had achieved its purpose. By skilful flying he was able to bring the aircraft back to friendly territory, where he ordered the crew to bale out. The aircraft became gradually more difficult to control and, as the last of the crew jumped, it plunged to earth; Major Swales was found dead at the controls. Intrepid in attack, courageous in the face of danger, he did his duty to the last, giving his life that his comrades might live.
TATAM, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), NOEL CURTIS, 39695. 10 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 26. Son of John Alfred and Essylt Gladys Tatam; husband of Kathleen Ethel Tatam, of Barnwell, Northamptonshire. A.M.I. Mech. E. VIII. B. 9.
TATE, Warrant Officer (Pilot), GEORGE, 1433255. 610 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 23rd January 1945. Age 24. Son of George and Gladys Tate, of Liverton Mines, Yorkshire; husband of Marjorie Tate, of Marlborough, Devon. VIII. C. 2.
THOMAS, Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), IVOR BERTRAM, 1184086. 44 (Rhodesia) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 22nd May 1944. Age 23. Son of Harold Charles and Mabel Hilian Thomas, of Clifton, Bristol. Coll. grave V. C. 1.
TODD, Sergeant (Nav.), RICHARD, 1673062. 608 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 5th March 1945. Age 19. Son of William and Clara Todd, of Baskworth, Northumberland. VI. D. 19.
TRAIL, Flight Lieutenant (Air Gnr.), GEORGE, 130716. 223 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 14th January 1945. IV. D. 8.
TWILLEY, Flying Officer (Pilot), BERNARD MARK, 151201. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 18th December 1944. Age 24. Son of William L. and Jessie G. Twilley, of Grantham, Lincolnshire VIII. A. 14
VALENTINE, Flight Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), GEORGE BAIRD, 1555433. 625 Sqd. Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 3rd April 1945. Age 21. Son of George Gordon Valentine and Agnes MacFarlane Valentine, of Knightswood, Glasgow. I. B. 7.
WALLIS, Sergeant (Flt. Engr.), EDWIN VALENTINE, 1802513. 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 21st November 1944. Age 40. Son of Edwin R. and Alice Mary Jane Wallis, of Weybridge, Surrey. VIII. A. 7.
WATSON, Pilot Officer (W.Op.), LESLIE THOMAS, 173304. 467 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 11th May 1944. Age 23. Son of Thomas and Laura Robina Watson, of Hilsea, Portsmouth. II. E. 7.
WIGGINS, Flying Officer, ALAN CHARLES, 153253. 21 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 29th September 1944. Age 22. Son of Harry and Julia Ellen Wiggins, of Abingdon, Berkshire. VI. E. 3.
WILSON, Warrant Officer (Nav./bomber), ROBERT MAXWELL, 1292035. 320 (Dutch) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 9th February 1945. Age 22. Son of William Maxwell Gunn Wilson and Margaret Elsie Wilson, of Wallington, Surrey. VIII. B. 2.
