Post by vgp on Dec 20, 2008 19:06:12 GMT 12
Marking the sacrifice of bomber crew
Dec 19 2008 by Dave Robson, Evening Gazette
A POIGNANT ceremony was held on a Redcar bridge - 66 years to the day a Lancaster bomber crashed nearby.
On December 17, 1942, seven young men were killed near Dormanstown when the bomber they were flying in was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.
The Lancaster, based at Holme-on- Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire, had been among 50 aircraft dispatched to lay mines along the coast that fateful night.
But bad weather, poor visibility and a fault with its “friend or foe” identification system meant it was assumed to be hostile. It came down near Middle Farm, Dormanstown - where Steel House now stands off the A1085 Trunk Road.
But now, thanks to a former RAF servicemen, their sacrifice is remembered with a special plaque.
Relatives of the seven air crew travelled up from Yorkshire to see the plaque - commissioned by Dave Morris of Thirsk and provided by GSM Graphic - get unveiled on Lord McGowan’s Bridge, just before the Steel House roundabout.
Also present was Guisborough aviation-based author Bill Norman, whose research and books inspired Mr Morris in his memorial mission.
Mr Morris, who has commissioned four other plaques across Yorkshire, said: “If people like Bill hadn’t done the research, I wouldn’t know about things like this.
“The last line of one of Bill’s books said there was no public acknowledgement of what happened to this crew. I just thought they deserved something more.”
Mr Norman, who praised Dormanstown councillor Vilma Collins for her help, said: “A lot of very young lads, filled with a great sense of duty, did some amazing things on our behalf.
“The sacrifices they made should always be remembered.”
The international crew who died were: Sergeant Alec Fussell RAF (pilot); Sgt Jack Worsnop RAF (flight engineer); Sgt Sidney McLean RNZAF (bomb aimer); Sgt Monte McIntyre RNZAF (navigator); Sgt James O’Malley RNZAF (wireless operator); Sgt Gregory Georges RCAF (mid-upper gunner); Sgt George Warren RAF (rear gunner).
www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2008/12/19/marking-the-sacrifice-of-bomber-crew-84229-22508587/
Dec 19 2008 by Dave Robson, Evening Gazette
A POIGNANT ceremony was held on a Redcar bridge - 66 years to the day a Lancaster bomber crashed nearby.
On December 17, 1942, seven young men were killed near Dormanstown when the bomber they were flying in was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.
The Lancaster, based at Holme-on- Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire, had been among 50 aircraft dispatched to lay mines along the coast that fateful night.
But bad weather, poor visibility and a fault with its “friend or foe” identification system meant it was assumed to be hostile. It came down near Middle Farm, Dormanstown - where Steel House now stands off the A1085 Trunk Road.
But now, thanks to a former RAF servicemen, their sacrifice is remembered with a special plaque.
Relatives of the seven air crew travelled up from Yorkshire to see the plaque - commissioned by Dave Morris of Thirsk and provided by GSM Graphic - get unveiled on Lord McGowan’s Bridge, just before the Steel House roundabout.
Also present was Guisborough aviation-based author Bill Norman, whose research and books inspired Mr Morris in his memorial mission.
Mr Morris, who has commissioned four other plaques across Yorkshire, said: “If people like Bill hadn’t done the research, I wouldn’t know about things like this.
“The last line of one of Bill’s books said there was no public acknowledgement of what happened to this crew. I just thought they deserved something more.”
Mr Norman, who praised Dormanstown councillor Vilma Collins for her help, said: “A lot of very young lads, filled with a great sense of duty, did some amazing things on our behalf.
“The sacrifices they made should always be remembered.”
The international crew who died were: Sergeant Alec Fussell RAF (pilot); Sgt Jack Worsnop RAF (flight engineer); Sgt Sidney McLean RNZAF (bomb aimer); Sgt Monte McIntyre RNZAF (navigator); Sgt James O’Malley RNZAF (wireless operator); Sgt Gregory Georges RCAF (mid-upper gunner); Sgt George Warren RAF (rear gunner).
www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2008/12/19/marking-the-sacrifice-of-bomber-crew-84229-22508587/