Fields adjacent to Hale Fen Farm, Coveney.
On 18th April 1944 26 aircraft from 115 Squadron took off from RAF Witchford for a night bombing raid on rail yards in Rouen, France. None of the aircraft were lost during the raid itself, but two were targeted and downed by a German ME 410 night fighter, likely flown by Hptm Dietrich Puttfarken, on their return.
Avro Lancaster LL667 KO-R came down in this remote field, with the loss of all crew. In 1996 the Coveney crash site was excavated and one of the engines recovered. It is on display at the RAF Witchford museum. Roughly ///intervene.having.quieter
The crew lost on LL667 KO-R were:
Pilot Officer John Birnie (173326) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Aged 20. Buried St Mary's Church, Gosforth
Sergeant John Ferguson (1591340) Flight Engineer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Aged 19. Buried Kendal Cemetery.
Flight Sergeant David Lloyd Jones (975131) Navigator - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Aged 30. Buried in Aberystwyth Cemetery
Sergeant Ernest Kerwin (1540856) Wireless Operator - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Aged 30. Buried Cambridge City Cemetery.
Pilot Officer Arnold Lepine Feldman (J92605) Bomb Aimer - Royal Canadian Air Force . Aged 27. Buried Cambridge City Cemetery.
Sergeant William James MacMillan (R209012) Mid Upper Gunner - Royal Canadian Air Force. Aged 19. Buried Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey
Sergeant George Edward Bailey (1868473) Gunner - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Aged 23. Buried St Margaret's Church, Rainham
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The second aircraft LL867 A4-J crashed near Common Farm, Witchford. Exact spot unknown to me.
The crew lost on LL867 A4-J were:
Flight Lieutenant Charles Eddie MBE (39003) Pilot - Royal New Zealand Air Force. Aged 29. Buried Cambridge City Cemetery.
Sergeant William Leslie Murphy (2206546) Flight Engineer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried West Derby Cemetery, Liverpool.
Flying Officer Albert Smith (132712) Navigator - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Queensbury Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Flight Sergeant Peter John Maddox (1334594) Wireless Operator - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Aged 22. Buried Northwood Cemetery, Cowes
Flight Sergeant Harold George Pugh (658462) Bomb Aimer - Royal Air Force. Aged 24. Buried St St Martin's, Hindringham.
Sergeant Alfred Frank Langridge (18127110) Mid Upper Gunner - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Aged 32. Buried Mitcham Road Cemetery, Croydon
Warrant Officer II Henry Bennis (R178351) Rear Gunner - Royal Canadian Air Force. Aged 22. Buried Cambridge City Cemetery
In Coveney church there is a plaque to the crews of both planes that crashed that night.
PER ARDUA AD ASTRA
MAY THEY ALL REST IN PEACE
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