The Belgians Remember Them ligne

Cénotaphe de Londres: L'Hommage de la Belgique

L'équipage du Lancaster JA 712 BQ-H
The crew of the Lancaster JA 712 BQ-H


Nouveaux documents ajoutés- New documents added (21/02/2014)

L'équipage du Lancaster JA 712 BQ-H
The crew of the Lancaster JA 712 BQ-H

Les faits - The facts

Le Lancaster JA 712 BQ-H était parti de North Killingholme le 27 mai 1944, au soir, en compagnie d'une série d'appareils du 550th en vue de bombarder les gares de triage ROTHE-ERDE à l'est de la ville d'AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. La cible a été atteinte et le bombardement a eu les résultats prévus, selon les rapports de mission, malgré la brume qui recouvrait l'endroit à atteindre. Deux appareils du 550e ne sont pas rentrés à North Killingholme, le LL 810-BQ-K tombé à Lichtervelde et le JA 712-BQ-H tombé à Rebecq.

Lancaster JA712-BQ-H took of from North Killingholme the 27th of May 1944, at night with several other airplanes of the 550th to bombard the marshalling yards ROTHE-ERDE of AACHEN, east of the city. The target was been touched, in spite of the light mist covering the railways, during this night, following the mission's reports. Two aircrafts didn't return: LL 810-BQ-K fallen to Lichtervelde and JA 712-BQ-H fallen to Rebecq.

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L'équipage du JA-712: John Sheahan et David Yardley n'apparaissent pas sur la photo. Cruishank n'a pas fait partie du dernier vol, il a été remplacé par Peter King.
The JA-712 crew: John Sheahan and David Yardley don't appear on the picture. Cruishank was replaced by Peter King on the last flight.

role

Position des hommes à bord - Position of men on board



Cinq membres d’équipage périrent dans le crash - Five members of crew died in the crash:

DE LENGERKE, KENNETH HAROLD FONTAIN, Sergeant/Air-gunner, 517767, 28/05/1944, Royal Air Force, United Kingdom,
Coll. grave X. 19. 16. BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY
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FLANAGAN, THOMAS EDWARD, Pilot Officer/Navigator, J/92033, 28/05/1944, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian,
Coll. grave X. 18. 29. BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY

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KING, PETER CHARLES MORRELL, Sergeant/Wireless operator, 1394149, 28/05/1944, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, United Kingdom,
Coll. grave X. 18. 29. BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY

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PURNEY, ELVIN CURTIS, Pilot Officer, J/19590, 28/05/1944, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian,
Coll. grave X. 18. 29. BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY

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SHEAHAN, JOHN LEONARD, Sergeant/Flight engineer, 1800275, 28/05/1944, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, United Kingdom,
Col. grave X. 19. 17. BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY

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Deux membres d’équipage survécurent - Two members of crew died survived:

MOLNAR ELI, Sergeant/Bomb Aimer, R/168366, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian,
Evaded, He jumped with his parachute, was rescued and hidden by Belgian resistance of the village of Rebecq.

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YARDLEY, DAVID, Sergeant/Air gunner, 1583633, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
PoW, British, was hurt in the crash, he was extracted from the wreck by the villagers and hidden in Rebecq’s Hospital where he was cared for. He was arrested by the Germans and became a war prisoner.

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Ceux qui sont décédés - Those who were died

ligne graves of the crew

Les stèles des membres de l'équipage - The steles of the members of the crew

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Le cimetière britannique de Bruxelles (Evere) - The British cemetery to Bruxelles (Evere)




rebecq

rebecq

Lettre du Commandement Britannique envoyée à la famille d'E. Purney qui décrit les circonstances du crash
Letter from British Command to Purney Family telling about Rebecq's crash circumstances



We will remember them! - Nous nous souvenons d'eux!



Sources:- 550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme Rolt of Honour
- 550 Squadron RAF failed to return
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
- Library and Archives Canada - Second World War Service Files: Canadian Armed Forces War Dead
- Photos: coll. J Sheahan & A.M.R.