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Aircrew Deaths and Resting Places Worldwide 1939 - 1947 Database
Allied Losses Nordic RAAF Losses RNZAF Losses USAAF Battle of Britain Paradie RCAF Archiwum Polish War Graves Runnymede Kracker Luftwaffe
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This database attempts to include all aircrew gravesites for losses from British, Commonwealth and foreign forces fighting under RAF operational command. Additionally it lists German gravesites for Luftwaffe crew members who lost lives over Britain. We have made exhaustive studies to find pictures of all the gravesites because it's one thing to read the name of a cemetery but it evokes quite another emotional response to see a picture of the location.
Each grave is a life given up too early and perhaps the first emotion that strikes one on seeing pictures of the gravesites is how many there are.
For family and friends each loss was mourned for a lifetime. For the rest of us, the least we can do is honour their loss by remembering.

Commonwealth War Graves in the USA

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: many people assemble information on WWll cemeteries and individual graves. We have frequently consulted these sites in preparing this database. Readers are encouraged to consult these sites directly as each brings a unique quality to its work. They include:TheBaldIcon (images from Botley, Oxford), http://www.inmemories.com/ • https://www.tracesofwar.com/ • http://www.webmatters.net/ • https://billiongraves.com/ • http://www.peterswar.net/ • https://www.findagrave.com/ • http://www.roll-of-honour.com/ • http:www.hawkesbury.net.au/ • http://www.fallenheroesphotos.org/

Data derived from many sources. Corrections/Additions welcomed via Helpdesk


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You searched for: “"lw579"”

#Name*First NamesRankServiceNumberHonoursServiceUnitAgeDateOfDeathBuriedCommemoratedLinksPhoto (Click To Expand)Notes
1 ConnellThomas SamuelSergeant1567790RAFVR51Sqn201944-03-31United KingdomCampsie Cemetery, East Extn. Grave 504.

On the night of the 30th/31st of March 1944, Halifax III LW579, MH-V took off from Snaith, Yorkshire; at 22.07 . Incendiaries (40x30 lb and 540x4 Ib) were loaded, target Nuremburg. 17 aircraft from 51Sqn wete despatched. 2 aircraft returned early - one with engines problems and the other due to an escape hatch becoming detached in flight. The raid was a disaster. In full moon conditions, German nightfighters shot down 85 bombers en-route. 10 lost over the target or upon return. 51 Squadron lost 6 aircraft including Halifax LW579. Returning the pilot was believed to be heading for either Chalgrove or Benson. At 05.50 the aircraft crashed into Cowleaze Wood, just over two miles west of Stokenchurch, Oxfordshire. A memorial to the crew now stands close to the crash site in Cowleaze Woods.

None of the crew survived the crash:
P/O 159065 James Brooks, RAFVR, (P), aged 21 - buried Boroughness Cemetery
Sgt 1567790 Thomas Samuel Connell RAFVR (F/E), aged 20- buried Campsie Cemetery
F/Sgt 1455591 Dennis Patrick McCormack RAFVR (Nav), aged 21 - buried Leeds Catholic Cemetery
F/Sgt 1372859 Stewart Glass RAFVR (B/A) aged 23 - buried Yester Churchyard
F/Sgt 1334079 George William West (W/Op), aged 22 - buried Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery
F/Sgt 1332240 Dennis Arthur Churchill RAFVR, (A/G) aged 20 - buried Greenwich Cemetery
Sgt 1321703 Robert Frederick Kelly (A/G), aged 20 - buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery

Cowleaze Wood


Son Of Robert And Sarah Connell, Of Campsie. His Brother Robert Also Died On Service.
2 KellyRobert FrederickSergeant1321703RAFVR51Sqn201944-03-31United KingdomOxford (Botley) Cemetery, Plot I/2. Grave 192. Epitaph: "BENEATH HIS WINGS SECURELY SHELTERED" R.I.P.Archive Report LW579On the night of the 30th/31st of March 1944, Halifax III LW579, MH-V took off from Snaith, Yorkshire; at 22.07 . Incendiaries (40x30 lb and 540x4 Ib) were loaded, target Nuremburg. 17 aircraft from 51Sqn wete despatched. 2 aircraft returned early - one with engines problems and the other due to an escape hatch becoming detached in flight. The raid was a disaster. In full moon conditions, German nightfighters shot down 85 bombers en-route. 10 lost over the target or upon return. 51 Squadron lost 6 aircraft including Halifax LW579. Returning the pilot was believed to be heading for either Chalgrove or Benson. At 05.50 the aircraft crashed into Cowleaze Wood, just over two miles west of Stokenchurch, Oxfordshire. A memorial to the crew now stands close to the crash site in Cowleaze Woods.

None of the crew survived the crash:
P/O 159065 James Brooks, RAFVR, (P), aged 21 - buried Boroughness Cemetery
Sgt 1567790 Thomas Samuel Connell RAFVR (F/E), aged 20- buried Campsie Cemetery
F/Sgt 1455591 Dennis Patrick McCormack RAFVR (Nav), aged 21 - buried Leeds Catholic Cemetery
F/Sgt 1372859 Stewart Glass RAFVR (B/A) aged 23 - buried Yester Churchyard
F/Sgt 1334079 George William West (W/Op), aged 22 - buried Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery
F/Sgt 1332240 Dennis Arthur Churchill RAFVR, (A/G) aged 20 - buried Greenwich Cemetery
Sgt 1321703 Robert Frederick Kelly (A/G), aged 20 - buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery

Cowleaze Wood


Son Of Robert James Kelly And Beryl Janet Kelly, Of Wellington, Nilgiris, India.

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