Memorial 2

(Above) In memory of Cecil Morgan and all the crew of 97 Squadron Lancaster R5497 OF-Z who were lost without trace on the night of Cecil's birthday, 17th December 1942. Under the Heading, "He screamed for his Mother", it says, "Cecil you always had to climb that tree in Granny's garden without falling out despite her forebodings. It was your destiny to fall out of unknown skies all those years later."

(Above) Sqn Ldr Ken Foster DFC & Bar remembered on his parents' gravestone. He lies in Rheinberg War Cemetery.

(Above) Photo of the grave of Sgt William Chapman in Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery. Sgt Chapman was Killed in action on the night of March 24/25th1944 attacking the target of Berlin.

(Above) The original marker for the graves of Pilot Officer William Coates DFM and his crew who were also killed in action on March 24/25th 1944. This photo was taken at Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery.

(Below) F/Sgt Jack Cowan DFM from Dagenham in Essex, a 97 Squadron flight engineer who was killed on 23rd September 1944. His grave is in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

(Above) A university hockey team picture including Orlay Bligh who was recruited by the RAF in April 1939. By 1940 Pilot Officer Bligh was a bomber pilot with 97 Squadron. On 2nd February 1940, his Whitley aircraft crashed near Abingdon in Oxfordshire when returning from an air photo reconnaissance operation over Europe. Ironically, he was due to return home to Canada to serve as an instructor in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

(Above) Here we have a general view of a 97 Squadron service funeral at Coningsby Cemetery where many of the aircrew were buried. Sadly, scenes like this were very common during the war years.

(Below) The grave of Flying Officer Peter Norton at Coningsby Cemetery. He, and all of his crew, were killed when returning from an attack on Berlin in the early hours of 30th March 1943. Flying Officer Norton's aircraft was in the circuit waiting to be given permission to land at Woodhall Spa when it crashed at Coningsby.

(Below) The memorial scroll that was sent to Flying Officer Norton's widow. At the time of his death she was pregnant with their child.

(Below) The grave of Sgt Bill Whiting, who was the rear gunner in Flying Officer Norton's crew. He lies in the church yard at All Saints Church, Branksome Park near Poole in Dorset.

Service of Remembrance for RAAF Air Crew WW2 at St Mary le Bow Church, Cheapside, London on 4th June 2006

The photo above and the one below were sent by Jim Wright who attended a memorial service and dedication to our Commonwealth friends of the Royal Australian Air Force who gave their lives in our hour of need during Workd War 2. The top photo shows the memorial plaque and (below) is the single wreath placed on the floor beneath the plaque.