Last 39 RAAF Photos required in Europe. ITALY (BARI)

Discussion in 'War Grave Photographs' started by spidge, Sep 9, 2014.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    After seven years and assistance from many wonderful people, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for my required RAAF Headstone photos in Europe.

    From the initial 5,988 that were required in 745 cemeteries, I now only require 39 in one cemetery in Italy.

    If you can assist or know of someone that could, I would be most appreciative. Please let me know and I will supply the details.

    Italy

    (39) Bari War Cemetery - Still outstanding.


    (1) Bolsena War Cemetery Completed by Vitellino - Thank you
    (1) Padua War Cemetery Completed by Enrico - Thank you

    Bulgaria

    (10) Sofia War Cemetery Still Outstanding Completed by Dave Barlow - Thank you

    Macedonia

    (1) Skopje War Cemetery (WW1 RFC Australian who went missing on a reconnaissance flight, 12.3.17 Completed Stephen Coates

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  2. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Will do Bolsena sometime this autumn.

    Vitellino
     
  3. Bernard85

    Bernard85 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    good day spidge very senior member,yesterday,08:27am,re:last 51 raaf photos required in europe,italy.bulgaria,macedonia(rfc/ww1) i am just posting to congratulate you on all your research and finaly heading to the finish line,and to all those who helped with information,great teamwork.regards to all bernard85
     
  4. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Vitellino,

    That would be much appreciated if you can. This is the young lad and the crew loss details.

    16th October 1943 - 150 Sqn RAF - Bolsena War Cemetery, Italy.

    Quote:
    On this day there were 53 Commonwealth Air Force Deaths.


    RAF 31

    RAAF 13

    RCAF 5

    RIAF 1

    RNZAF 1

    SAAF 1

    Rhodesia Air Askari Corps

    WAAF 1

    WAAAF

    WAAF (SAAF)

    WAAC
    Quote:
    RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
    RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
    IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

    420687 Flight Sergeant LAWSON, Victor Edward

    Source :

    AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, Commonwealth War Graves records
    Aircraft Type: Wellington
    Serial number: LN 516
    Radio call sign:
    Unit: ATTD 150 SQN RAF

    Summary:

    Wellington LN516 of North African Strategic Air Force which took off at 1650 hours on
    the night of 16/17th October 1943, was one of a number of 150 Sqn aircraft detailed to
    attack Casale drome, Italy. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed
    to return to base.

    Crew :

    RAF Flt Sgt A Clark, Captain (Pilot) †
    RAF Sgt T O Mears (Navigator) †
    RAF Sgt N L Britten (Air Bomber) †
    RAF Sgt C D L Stewart, (Wireless Air Gunner) †
    RAAF 420687 Flt Sgt V E Lawson, (Air Gunner) †

    All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Bolsena War Cemetery, Italy.
    The cemetery is situated on the east side of Lake Bolsena, just west of the SS2 between Rome and Siena.

    In Memory of
    Flight Sergeant

    Victor Edward Lawson

    420687, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 16 October 1943 Age 20
    Son of Frederick Olof and Ada Alice Lawson, of Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
    Remembered with Honour
    Bolsena War Cemetery

    In Memory of
    Flight Sergeant
    Alexander Clark
    1336679, 150 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 16 October 1943 Age 22
    Son of Francis Frederick and Clara Ada Clark, of Deptford, London.
    Remembered with Honour
    Bolsena War Cemetery

    In Memory of
    Sergeant
    Terence O'mohr Mears
    658884, 150 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on 16 October 1943 Age 22
    Son of Arthur George and Alice Gertrude Mary Mears, of South Kensington, London.
    Remembered with Honour
    Bolsena War Cemetery

    In Memory of
    Sergeant
    Henry Leonard Brittain
    1145431, 150 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 16 October 1943 Age 20
    Son of Leonard Everard Brittain and Mary Gertrude Brittain, of Whitley Bay, Northumberland.
    Remembered with Honour
    Bolsena War Cemetery

    In Memory of
    Sergeant
    Clarence David Lowrie Stewart
    1340810, 150 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 16 October 1943 Age 22
    Son of Duncan Stewart, and of Rose Stewart. of Aberdeen.
    Remembered with Honour
    Bolsena War Cemetery


    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  5. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Am now planning to go on Remembrance Sunday to put some crosses on the graves of those killed or critically injured during the bombing of the POW train at Allerona 28 January 1944. bombedpowtrain.weebly.com

    Would you like me to place a cross on his grave as well as take a photo?

    Vitellino
     
  6. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Vitellino,

    I do not usually place crosses however if you wish to do it that would be great.

    Cheers


    Geoff
     
  7. Mellandry

    Mellandry Member

    Hello, Spidge, my brother-in-law works in Padua. If you let me know the details of the RAAF headstone there, I can ask him to get a picture.
    Ciao
    Enrico
     
  8. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Enrico,

    Thank you for the offer, that would be great. As they are all now buried in a Collective grave, could I ask that your brother takes photos of the headstones of the four as they may be on two headstones only?

    A little to tell your brother about this man and the other three crew!

    And the initial thread on this forum which names the archaeologists who initially found the crashed aircraft!
    !
    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/31916-18-squadron-boston-v-bz590-crew-remains-found-now-looking-for-family-members/?p=386214
     
  9. Mellandry

    Mellandry Member

    He said next week he'll be able to go there...I will let you know
    Ciao
    Enrico
     
  10. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thank you Enrico!

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  11. Mellandry

    Mellandry Member

    Hello, I have the pictures, Hunt (RAAF), Bostock, Perkins and Raikes (RAF), single headstone and the four together.
    Do you want me to post them here or some other way?
    Ciao - Enrico
     
  12. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Enrico,

    You can post them on here and send them to me by email as well if that is okay.

    My thanks to you and your brother. Great to have another crossed off my list in Italy.

    I will send you a personal message with my email address.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  13. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Geoff

    Once again our friend at Durnbach has turned up trumps !

    Re:

    BURNS, STEPHEN


    Flight Sergeant


    1217692


    20/12/1943


    22


    Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve


    United Kingdom


    Row 2. Grave 12.


    GOSSELIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY




    GOWRIE, CHESTER BRUCE


    Warrant Officer Class II


    R/93201


    20/12/1943


    28


    Royal Canadian Air Force


    Canadian


    Row 2. Grave 13.


    GOSSELIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY




    MAYNARD, THOMAS WILLIAM


    Flight Sergeant


    1386420


    20/12/1943


    20


    Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve


    United Kingdom


    Row 2. Grave 14.


    GOSSELIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY




    SMITH, EDWARD CLARENCE


    Flight Sergeant


    540655


    20/12/1943


    24


    Royal Air Force


    United Kingdom


    Row 2. Grave 15.


    GOSSELIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY




    THRASHER, JOHN WILLIAM


    Pilot Officer


    J/19337


    20/12/1943


    23


    Royal Canadian Air Force


    Canadian


    Row 2. Grave 16.


    GOSSELIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY




    MACFARLANE, R


    Flying Officer


    126044


    20/12/1943




    Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve


    United Kingdom


    Row 2. Grave 17.


    GOSSELIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY




    Trust these are OK ?

    Ron
     

    Attached Files:

    CL1 likes this.
  14. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    This crew was discussed some time ago.Italian researchers were attempting to contact Bostock's kin....he was a resident from the Nottingham area.As far as I am aware,contact with a relative has not been successful.

    Raikes has some acclaim as a World War 2 poet.

    Congratulations Geoff on the progress of your project.
     
  15. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Ron,

    Many thanks to you!

    Please pass on my appreciation to "your contact" and his counterpart in Belgium.

    Fantastic photos.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  16. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Harry,

    They did eventually find the relative of Bostock!

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  17. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Enrico,

    Thank you again for the photos!

    I thought I would post the nice group photo of the crew and their headstones!

    Cheers

    Geoff

    Hunt Crew 3 1600x1200.jpg Hunt_JP_boston-crew.jpg
     
  18. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Geoff,

    Thanks for the update,obviously missed it.

    Always pleasing to see that a crew's kin were finally made aware that their relative's remains had been discovered and laid to rest.
     
  19. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Geoff

    Further to the Gosselies enquiry, just realised I hadn't sent you the photo of the headstones of the entire crew

    Best Regards

    Ron
     

    Attached Files:

  20. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thanks Ron,

    Another one to the list!

    Cheers

    Geoff
     

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