Dominique Joyce

28/29.06.1944 No. 102 Squadron Halifax LW143
Halifax crash Operation: Railway yards, Blainville, France,
Date: 28/29th June 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)Unit:
No. 102 Squadron
Type: Halifax III
Serial: LW143
Coded: DY-O
Location: Gisors-Gournay area, France
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Reg W.I. Joyce PoW No: 8100 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

I was absolutely overwhelmed with pride when I came upon the Air Crew Remembered site - 28/29.06.1944 No. 102 Squadron Halifax LW143. My father is Reginald William Joyce, air gunner on the Halifax 111 LW143. He died peacefully on Monday, 29th December 2014 aged 89 years. Seeing the photographs of him and his crew was incredibly moving. He often talked of his crew with great respect and never ever forgot them. After the war my father went back to Lyons-la-Forest to give his thanks and gratitude to Huguette Verhague for the bravery and kindness she gave to him and his crew. It was there that he met, fell in love and married a local French girl, my mother Janine Colzy who actually watched LW143 being shot down. Little did she know her future husband was in that aircraft. My grandfather was Gustave Colzy (code name ‘Olaf’) a much respected member of the French Résistance. I have my father’s leather helmet and attachments which he wore when he was shot down, a great piece of history. What a story!
In memory to all those great men and women who fought and gave their lives for the peace we have today Amen.

Warren Fowlie

I am very happy to have found the Kracker Database on your site to verify other information scattered around out there on the Internet. Also found a bit of new information that has helped me understand events that I am researching. Appreciate your effort to preserve all of this information and making it accessible. Very well done //waf

Karolina

I am so happy that you take care about our pilots .Specially about my lovely Uncle .IF you do not mind send me more info cos my aunt Connie his wife is so old lady and she does not remember all .I know a lot even I have some pics but better is as much as possible .I want to keep all info about him our proud of our family from Wejherowo Poland
regards
Karolina Groenwald

Carole Higgs

Wife of Kenneth John Higgs ,who was named after his uncle Kenneth George Higgs killed in action aged 20 years. He died 25/26.05 1943. 428 Squadron Wellington X HZ476. We are now trying to track down his medals. My husband was born on 25/05 1949

William

I would like to contact any close relatives of F/O Philip Sidney Burgess. He was Navigator on AJ-E which crashed on the way to the Sorpe Dam on 16th May 1943.

Lidija Grgich Nothdurft

How to find my granpapa Karl Nothdurft born in Jugoslavia,Serbia ,he was solder as I heard on Estern front.Lost in the WW2
Friday,December 19.2014 12.01 PM

Michel Sergent

Hello,
It's a very good site of informations, i read your informations with pleasure, it's great, bravo.
Yours.
Michel

jayne smith

airman remembered -henry antony james marsh age 38(known as tony) shot down 13th august 1940 over portland, dorset flying a hurricane, in 238 squadron, panel 17 runnymede memorial

Lord Roy Duffy

One of the best sites that deal with ww1 ww2 and the rest, please keep up the great work started.

math

This is the best Website i´ve seen. I Life in Krautland and i am saying you´d have and make a Good job in History and Now. And i am saying so sorry that you have Lost soo many Brothers and Men they are fighting for freedom and peace. THANK YOU

Joshua

I don't have any relatives who were in the R.A.F. who died during the war, however I find this a highly interesting website, with a great deal of fascinating information, and will be back on here in the future to read more.

Mary

Hello. Thank you for this wonderful web page. My Dad's brother was Air/Gnr: P/O. Gerald Albion Kent C/90305 RCAF of the No. 420 Squadron Halifax III LK803 PT-H. Sadly, he was killed with the rest of his crew on July 19, 1944 during a fighter affiliation training exercise. According to my Mother, he wasn't supposed to be on that flight but took the place of his friend who wanted to stay behind to be with his girlfriend. My parents have shared wonderful stories about Gerald and finding this web page brought me a bit closer to the man who would have been my uncle. From all accounts, he was a wonderful person. Thank you again for the hard work in putting this website together.

John Mills

I have a family interest in Flt Sgt R W Cornelius. I was pointed towards your site and the research done re the crash of an aircraft in 10 Sqd RAF in which he was Flt Engineer in 1943.
I would like to find out more and confirm my relative is the same R W Cornelius.

Hi, I do believe this is a great website. I stumbledupon it ;) I will come back once again since i have bookmarked it. Money

Hi, I do believe this is a great website. I stumbledupon it ;) I will come back once again since i have bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

Johan VAN DIJK

I am married to the niece of Flying Officer D G Howse, killed in action in a Halifax II (JD261) of 51 Squadron during a raid to Gelsenkirchen on 25/26 June 1943. He was shot down by G. Radusch of 1 NJG based at Venlo. His grave was again visited in September 2014. I am in possession of a photo of him along with crew members that I have yet to identify.

You have a helpful and informative web-site.

Kathryn Park

I stumbled upon your site and for the first time found who was in the other plane that was shot down on the same Air Sea Rescue mission as my uncle, PO SJ Lester.Thank you for all your work in running this site

April

A great website. Interested to contact pat baker who provided a photo of my great uncle Arthur Henry Stroud from 35 squadron. He got his from his aunt who was also a Waaf at raf linton on Ouse.

Sean Cowman

Urgently trying to trace Bridget Gillen or Christina Gillen family of Eamonn Gillen mid upper gunner on JB603on behalf of Paddy Gillen (6 Commando WW2) cousin of Eamonn. Can anyone help? Thanks

mike grant

aircrash over frankton until the late 70s there was a propeller blade keeping gate open by the barn where Oxford crashed.Also new eye witness to me 410 crash jack Holloway who lived opposite the field and related to me the aircraft on fire and exploding shells.propellor like the barn has long gone,but I could easily see the replaced tiles on the roof

Willian

Just desired to say I'm just lucky I happened onto your website page!

Ian Tippett

Great site - keep it up, these courageous men and women need to be remembered.

Celestin

lots of information on this website, really good job. I found this website when looking for informations about JD 406 Halifax plane, crashed in Meuse/France. Also looking to contact Jean Ragheb, niece of Sgt. Wenmoth, to share information about that plane.
I live close to the crash location, and we try to built a memorial for the JD406 crew. Hope Jean Ragheb can help.

Josh

I was brought to your website, looking for information on a Horsa Glider (LG999) /Sterling Bomber (LJ842)accident on the night of April 4th 1944 close to where I live now. I must say, despite the tradgedies that surround this website, it is truely wonderful to find a website that has such a depth of information. As a young wannabe (excuse that word)historical researcher, i know i will be visiting your website time and time again.
Many Thanks

Gill Chesney-Green

What a lovely website... was so pleased to see mention of dad and his Stirling...and the fact that they had been shot down. What an amazing amount of work!! To be able to research others who so gallantly played their part is wonderful. Many, many thanks!

Arthur Lee

I came here looking for information on the man that shot down my great uncle during WW2. I found him and my uncle was his 26th of 34 kills.

Jean

Thank you to all involved in this amazing website. Not only are you honouring lost loved ones, you have created a wonderful resource for historians studying war and genealogists tracking ancestors. I appreciate knowing more about the final flight of my ancestor than is offered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site. Sad and brief though it is, the information gives me more insight into this man's service than just his name and critical dates.

Bill

I was a young boy playing football with friends when we witnessed Wellington Bomber X3547 strike a barrage balloon cable and its tragic crash at Leighton, Crewe on the site of the now Leighton Hospital.
I seem to remember a second smaller aircraft possibly a fighter weaving about behind the Wellington prior to it making contact with the balloon cable.
I now live about 2 miles from Byley Churchyard where two members of the aircrew now rest.
So sad and in memory of the many brave young lives lost.

Mary Anne Gourley

Looking for AR(Z)2 460 Squadron crashed Avant-les-marcilly May 1944. All crew buried in churchyard. Memorial plaque unveilled 2002 in joint French/Australian ceremony. We have images and video of ceremony

CATHERINE

To Kelvin
Congratulations on a really impressive and professional website and please also keep up the great work you do making patients smile in what can be very painful situations at the N & N.
Catherine

Gillian Cornwall

Thank you so very much Kelvin for the work you have done in order to honour the service of F/O Richard Norman Foster. I can see my mom smiling down at the honour you have given Rich in acknowledging his service. I will not forget. Every blessing to those who served and to the families who lost their loved ones in order for us to have our freedom. Forever grateful.

Barry Maguire

My grandfather John Gallagher died on a raid on Goch on 7th Feb 1945 six years before I was born.
He was a flight engineer on a Halifax bomber of 102 squadron based at Pocklington. The aircraft was apparantly shot down by a night fighter over Hamme Mille in Belgium. I know very little of him if anyone has any information or pictures please make contact.
May I just say what a fantastic job Kelvin Young and his team are doing
Barry Maguire

Jean

My uncle, PJ Wenmoth 78squadron was a bomb aimer. He is buried in souilly churchyard ,Meuse ,France. I have pictures of him standing in front of plane

Gregory Overmeyer

What a wonderful site. Thank you to all who have contributed to it. After many years, this site has allowed me to learn the fate of a relative killed in a tragic accident at the beginning of WWII.

Bob Laird

My father was Leslie Robertson Laird who was an Air Gunner flying from Coastal Command bases on the Moray Firth area. If anyone has any knowledge, please let me know. My parents separated when I was a youngster, so any details I have are sketchy. Thank you,
Robert

Peter Gilbert

I wonder if there has been any replies to my email sent 2nd June re my father James Walter Gilbert or his crew members. Just to add they took off from R.A.F. Warboys and the raid was on the ball bearing factory at Schweinfurt . Many thanks Peter Gilbert

Mark Stevenson

My father served in 502 Squadron. Any plans to add an RAF Coastal Command aircrew database?

Peter Gilbert

Just found the details of my father James Walter Gilbert ,shoot down and killed on raid 24/25-2-44 over Germany was in 156 sgd his pilot was Sgd.Ldr.Eric Porter. If it was not for this fantastic site I would not have known where in Germany his plane down or how it was shoot down. If anyone has any knowledge of him or his crew I would be greatful to hear.

Thomas Keogh

A vote of Thanks to all who are responsible for this fantastic site.A labour of love and a lot of hard work goes into this site.Thanks to all.

Karen Petrie

What a fantastic website, thank you for inviting me to look at it and I look forward to looking at it more closely

Simon Payne

What a wonderful site. I am the proud owner of Wing Commander Ronald Kellett's yacht, which he bought new in the 60's. Through this site I was able to make contact with his children and send them pictures of their old boat!

Alan Girling

Thanks for this site - it has helped me resolve a mystery in researching my father's career in Bomber Command. He served with 576 squadron at Fiskerton in November 1944 before transferring with several other crews t0 150 Squadron at Hemswell. His last flight from Fiskerton was in NN750, which was lost on 29 December 44 in a crash at Manston in Kent. Squadron records are patchy but I wasn't sure whether one crew member had survived (he did, F/S Lake), and I couldn't decipher one of the names, but now I can complete my history thanks to your website. In memory of the six who did not survive.

Ryan Diachok

I am the nephew of F/O Peter Biollo PB253, I too have also served but in a much less chaotic time. Peacekeeping MIO Operation Desert Shield. Thank you for opening a door to the past that has been amazing to read about. These men and women were hero's to freedom and eventually peace.

Gavin Cooper

940857 FS Louis Wayte DFM 166 RAF Tailgunner/Lanc is on palliative care unit in Nanaimo BC Canada. He is 93.

Still alert and sends his regards.

Ian Gerrard

My cousin, Richard Kitchen, was second pilot on 9484. He was born in 1924 and I have his full service history. My uncle, also Richard Kitchen, died on the Somme, 10 July 1916, and is named on the Thiepval Memorial. My middle name is Richard and I was born in 1943 (my mother's maiden name is Kitchen). I have been to the Somme but not yet to Erkenschwick, Gelsenkirchen Huellen cemetery, nor Reichswald Forest BMC. I hope to soon. Ian Gerrard

Alan Scouller

Great comprehensive site, with super efficient and helpful webmaster

Linda Hall

Excellent website. I look forward to reading about more brave men as people are added to it in due course.

shirley robbins

My father was killed on the 11.4.44 over the village of Vieux Mesnil
the plane was Lancaster G George 460sqND 586 buried at Maubeuge

Alan Eaves

My uncle pilot officer A J D Eaves 61 sqd skellingthorpe on the night 26 11 1943 his Lancaster QR H W4918 Hells A Poppin was shot down all crew were killed very brave men all buried at Oldenburg war cemetery

Pam McKie

A wonderful website, it has been crucial to finding out about my cousin Percy Charles Smith. Thank you.

Ken MacLean (MWO Retd)

A wealth of information here: I served in the RCAF 1958-1989 as an Avionics technician.

Brother-in-law,Sgt K.E. Vear, pilot 161 Sqn. was interned in Sweden for 10 months in 1944.

RMC(SS) W.R. Fields, USN (RET)

A very moving tribute to the Airmen who fought WWII. I have the honor of saying that I was stationed with the RAF in the 1970s.

Steve Adamson

Interested in Sergeant Desmond Vincent Simmonds of 158 squadron. Also the same squadron in general.

Wayne Taggart

My fathe rBruce Taggart (RCAF) was a mid-upper gunner in Stirlings with 214 Sqn @ Chedburgh (from Sept 42 -to Jan 43) attached to 161 Sqn Special Ops at Tempsford during full-moon periods (S.O.E. Flights) and 149 Sqn @ Lakenheath (Feb-Mar 43) still with Stirlings. Post war re-enlisted as ground crew 1952-72 serving at Greenwood, Bagotville, Marville, Rockliffe,Trenton,Amherst,NS . Deceased in Feb 1995. A fantastic site - I will be applying in future as a researcher/helper.

Jill Pick

This means so much to me and I never met Leslie. The family always felt his loss and he was there in every conversation: 'Our Les...' and 'your Uncle Leslie...'I only wish my father could have seen the website and that Leslie, like all those other lads who didn't get a chance to live out their lives are not forgotten. Thank you so very much for creating this tribute. It is lovely.

gavin hinds

Just a short note to say I bumped into an elderly gentleman on Sunday coming home from my parents resting place and we just ended up talking and his name was mr Wilson and he told me about his brother in the raf and the missions. .I could tell how proud he was and it was an honour to talk to him..I noticed he had raf war veteran on his hat. I told him about my uncle francis degnan who flew Lancaster bomber and dropped a few on hitlers burchaise gardens..he gave me this website to check out and id like to say its an honour to read this...thanks..gav.+7KA#

Lambotte Marc

Your website is wonderful.
Thank you for your message on our guestbook www.rememberjd371.be
It would be a pleasure for us to work with you.

Diane Gollop

Thank you for the pictures of dads Wellington and the splendid way you have presented his story.

Larraine Hynes

Keith Frederick Hynes died 1944 was my relative thank you for the memorial to him L Hynes

Marjorie Sharples

Message for Janet Wilson re her grandfather Abraham Holden. Please get in touch as I have something given to my grandmother , his aunt, by your grandfather which I would like you to have.

Alan Schusler

Thank you for this site. I was able to look up my Uncles plane and crew. Flgt Sgt Alan Halsey KIA 7/9/41. 102 Squadron Whitley Bomber

webmaster

Message to KEITH FOX ref: Sgt. Alf Newnham - your email address is not recognised - can you contact us please.

Keith Fox

Alf Newnham was my uncle, my mothers brother. Alf was born in 1920 in Bredgar, Kent

Jean ragheb

PJ Wenmoth ,my uncle is buried in souilly churchyard ,meuse ,France. Not in germany.He belonged to 78th sqn and died in 1943.jean

Gavin C Black

Arthur Frederick Challinor was my cousin, i was 6 when he died. I do remember him, he had a sister Vilma, who died on 4 Oct 2008,Vilma had two sons, Clive WHO DIED 21 Jan 2008, and Mark who I am trying to contact. He ma have a photograph of Arthur aka Arty

Thore Thoresen

We celebrated New Years Eve in our basement shelter while that bombing raid went on. I was 12 at the time. The name of our town is Horten, not Horton as indicated.

Thore Thoresen
Sun Lakes Country Club
California

Kirby

Keep up the helpful job and delivering in the crowd!

Desmond

I love this website - its so usefull and helpfull.

Carmel Quinlivan-Hopkins

Very interesting to see my name sake a war hero. My father & grand father were also Patrick Quinlivan & hail from Kildare Ireland. My son Rory served in Afghanistan as a combat engineer for the Canadian Military & came home safe and sound. Thank you for posting the pictures

Nick Powell

account of the loss of the aircraft and his subsequent route back to the UK.

My wife is the daughter of Sq.Ldr. Poulter and hopes to visit his grave on the 70th anniversary next April. We would like to get in touch with Harry fisher if he is still living and with any other relatives of any of the crew of the two Stirlings.

Andy Smith

Quite simply a brilliant site can't praise it enough.

Alison

Thank you Mr Bob Wilton for your research - my great uncle William Mahaffy died in 1942 and is buried with his elder brother Henry who died in WW1 - Henry was not his uncle, but his big brother. There were just two boys in the family and one died in each war.
I hope to visit their grave one day soon.
Thanks to all

Christian

Thank you for your site, research and great work.
I searched information about my granduncle Maksymilian Frychel who was a pilot for the RAF. With your work I now know that he was a test pilot and died too young in an accident.
He flew for the British as member of the polish army, but he was part of the german minority in poland. He is a part of my family. I was born in germany and live here. I am proud to know about him. One day I will visit his grave.
Thanks again.

Erin Sundquist

William Doran was my Great uncle on my mother's side, my Granny's older brother. I didn't know anything about his life, so thank you so much for the research you have done. I would love to go and see where he is buried. Makes me very proud.

Theron P. Snell

Looking for the identity of a Canadian fighter pilot shot down in the vicinity of Mariadorf/Mariagrube Germany (near Alsdorf Germany) in early December 1944. Fell into a mine field near Mariagrube and was rescured from the mine filed by nearby troops.

Dave Jones

I am trying to locate the area or even the exact spot in which 608 squadron Downham Mosquito B-XX KB360 crashed near Wisbech on November 10th 1944 at 22:05hrs in which RCAF pilot Flt Lt Stuart Webb was killed. Any help would be most gratefully received.

Many thanks.

D K Heron

My dad was p/o J .Peter Heron
He was one of the very lucky ones He came
home.
A minor correction for the records
LW202 Halifax M VII

hugh richardson

Just to let you know that there is a small memorial to P/O Jean Joseph Albert Noizet on the edge of Rednal Airfield UK. I maintain the memorial and ensure that the grass is cut and that a Memorial Poppy Cross is placed each Remembrance Sunday. They are not forgotten!!

John Franklin

Benjamin Allan Franklin was my father's twin brother. I was born 5 years after he died, but I grew up with a constant awareness of him. He was, in absentia, a kind of surrogate father as he and my father were very close. I have visited his grave twice on visits to England and been very moved. I am very grateful to you for this website and to those who tend the graves. I have some significant memorabilia, lapels, medals, and the telegram his mother received after his death. God bless you all.

sharon coates

Myself & family live in a local village, Keelby. We walk regularly in the Private Woodlands. It is beautiful. We always pass the tree where these brave men were shot down by the JU188. We always stop to pay tribute. It feels very spiritual in that part of the woodland. There is a feeling. I'm interested to know if anybody walks there and feels similar. Thank you for this site. It is a joy to write in the guestbook.

Major James Carruthers USMC (Ret)

Thank you for this great tribute to these brave men. Alex Carruthers was my uncle of whom I'm extremely proud.

Jenni Allan

Thank you for all the work you do. I have been able to find out a little more about my grand-uncle F/O Frank McGlone (90 Sqdn), who was killed in July 1944. Having these details will hopefully help move me forward in my research. Thanks.

Stephen Hotchkis

I nearly cried because I saw my decendant's name flt sgt George Stewart hotchkis who was my second cousin an was killed after a night mission over Hannover on the 27.9.1943.God bless you mate,you are a hero in my family well done.if any one has any original photos they don't want of him I would be very grateful for them

M Manuel GEROTARES

Thanks for this website, I was able to find every luftwaffe pilot, medal and unit I was looking for. Very helpful for model kits.

chris mead

My Dad, Bert Mead, served in 10 Squadron as a rear gunner from 1940-1942 at Pembroke Dock and Plymouth. I had heaps of photos and his war record but my home burned down on 19 March 2013 and I lost everything. Dad died in 1975. Would love some photos and memorabilia of 10 Squadron. Can anyone direct me to a website where I can find these?

Andrew Payne

Thanks for this website - was able to find my great uncle Sergeant Herbert Payne (no 44 Rhodesia Squadron) - understand a bit more now after seeing pictures of his grave and the crash site - was just a story to me when I was growing up in Liverpool.

Mr RA LOCKWOOD

With reference to my uncle Air Gnr: F/O Frederick James Lockwood. 131879. D.F.C. R.A.F.V.R.

Brian Crooks

Thank you for this website I was able to find the Pilot I was looking for Flying Officer Albert McCullagh is the number displayed his service number? and what do the abreviations FCO mean?

Tansy Vaughan Taylor

My Father was Ernest Vaughan Taylor DFM Pathfinders 156 Squadron 8 Group. He sadly passed away last year. Two weeks ago my house was burgled and his medals stolen. DFM, War medal, 1939-1945 Star, France Germany star with their ribbons attached, all in black presentation box. If anyone can help me find them or thinks they've seen them for sale, I would be very grateful for your help.

Roger Sayer

Brilliant Website - Thank you for your dedication to keeping the memory of these brave individuals alive to remind us all of their ultimate sacrafice.

Dallas Pederson

Thanks to Aircrew Remembered and Kate for tracking down the Lenord Johnson family. Great wab page, so much to learn and understand. Well Done. Thank-you

Garth Bedwell

I am the nephew of Air/Gnr Frank Harry Liddon Vines,who was lost on Lancaster ED 431 on 5/6.March 1943.I would like to thank all those who keep this site running.

Ziegler

Guten Tag,
Habe eine Alte Totenkarte mit Bild von Pepps Pichler. Uffz. Flugzeugführer und Fluglehrer. Fliegertod am 23.12.1943
Über Pepps gibt es so gut wie nicht´s im Internt !
Grüße Ralph

Ziegler

Guten Tag,
Habe eine Alte Totenkarte mit Bild von Pepps Pichler. Uffz. Flugzeugführer und Fluglehrer. Fliegertod am 23.12.1943
Über Pepps gibt es so gut wie nicht´s im Internt !
Grüße Ralph

Rosalind Harris nee Spankie

Was really interested to see the reason for the renaming of Lake Spankie.My father who was a navigator in RAF spent time in Toronto, Canada during his training.I think this was in 1943. He also underwent training in Lincolnshire. He came from Dundee,Scotland and met my mother in Manchester, England just before he went to Canada. They married after the war and settled in Manchester. Seems so strange that my dad was in Canada possibly at the same time as Fl/Lt Edward Spankie was stationed in England.Feel sure that there must be a family connection in the distant past.Hope to pay my respects in person some day.

John Johnson

Many thanks Dave Mole for this memorial to some of Canada's finest. They Shall Not Grow as we Grow Old as we that are Left Grow Old.

Tiara caravello

(trainee pilot ) Sgt Robert James Tarren vc was my Uncle on my mothers side he was killed before i was born, i would like to know his date of birth and when and how exactly he died, his Parents, wife and 2 sisters are all dead and so i have no one to ask. This would help me to fill in the blank part of my family history. Thank you.

Janet Wilson

Thank you for posting this information. Abraham Holden was my maternal grandfather. He had just become father to a baby girl, Gillian, when died. I am now sharing his story with my daughter. It's a very emotional experience.

Gill Chesney-Green

Dad was in Bomber Command flying on Short Stirlings with 7 Squadron at Oakington, Cambridgeshire. In his memoirs of that time he writes about some of his fellow airmen who didn't return. If anyone is interested the book is 'Of Stirlings and Stalags: an air-gunner's tale' by WE 'Bill' Goodman. If you put the title into Google you'll find it on Amazon or Lulu. He writes about so many of his fellow crewmen that it would be difficult to name them all here...but it seems to be a good resource for those wanting to find what happened to former relatives.

This is a brilliant site... and I'm heartened that so many are working to remember those we lost during that terrible time. We owe them our respect and our deep thanks.

Modesto

I love looking at your web sites. With thanks!

wayne blynn

my uncle was Ft.Lt. Arnold Blynn, pilot of JP 276 shot down over poland August 4, 1945 while supplying Warsaw during the uprising.