Nutah wrote:
my Grandfather was a pathfinder with 83 SQN
unfortunately, like so many KIA
CJ wrote:
We're going to go ahead with a memorial to Don's grandfather and his crew
. This will be placed in the LAHC Bomber Command garden of remembrance and dedicated at some time during Em's Day.
CJ wrote:
I too felt moved when I read about Don's grandfather and his crew. I did some research and together with some additional details from Don, I've managed to put together the story of what happened to Lancaster B.111, JB284, OL-C, on the 23rd November 1943.
A total of 764 aircraft took part in that mission, including 10 Lancasters (630 Squadron) from East Kirkby. 2 failed to return to East Kirkby.
Bomber Command aircrew losses in WW2 were staggering, 55,573 were killed and all of them were volunteers
....
Update on all the above:
The Aviation Centre have very kindly given us permission to place the memorial to Don’s grandfather and his crew in their Memorial Chapel
* so we’ve had a 10” x 5” polished brass plaque made. We think it’s a great gesture by the LAHC, the crew of JB284 will now be remembered together with their brothers from East Kirkby who made the ultimate sacrifice.
We made the most of a two-wheel friendly early Spring day yesterday and made a 236-mile round trip to deliver it to the Centre. I think the crew of JB284 were smiling on us because it was a beautiful day and a great ride; plus, we didn’t encounter any of the forecast rain later in the afternoon.
LAHC will let us know when the plaque has been put up in the Memorial Chapel and then we can arrange with a local minister to have it dedicated. We’re hoping this can take place on Em’s Day but because it’s a Bank Holiday Monday it may not be convenient. We’ll confirm when the dedication will take place.
* Our Memorial Chapel is one of the displays we are most proud of, displaying the names of all the 848 aircrew and ground crew that died from RAF East Kirkby during the Second World War. It is a somber, peaceful place allowing you time for quiet contemplation during your visit reflecting on the tremendous sacrifice made by Bomber Command.
_________________
Chris & Jane Jessop
Founders of UKBEG April 1998
www.ukbuellgroup.co.uk