MILBURN, CHARLES Rank: Sergeant Trade: W.Op./Air Gnr. Service No: 1139905 Date of Death: 03/02/1943 Age: 30 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 78 Sqdn. Grave Reference 17. H. 17. Cemetery RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Charles and Evelyn W. Milburn; husband of Alice Milbum, of Gateshead, Co. Durham. CWGC - Cemetery Details
Halifax W7938 – airborne 18:15 on 3 Feb 1943 from Linton-on-Ouse to bomb targets in Hamburg. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Vechta, where burials took place 6 Feb 43. Five graves are now located in Sage War Cemetery; the graves of Sgt Milburn and F/S Laughlan RCAF are in Rheinberg War Cemetery. 108149 P/O F.Buchanan KIA SAGE WAR CEMETERY, 10. D. 7. 1139905 Sgt C.Milburn KIA RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY, 17. H. 17. R/97538 F/S H.W.Laughlan RCAF KIA RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY, 17. H. 19. 116794 P/O F.A.Davies KIA SAGE WAR CEMETERY, 10. D. 8. 1002202 F/S V.R.Wood KIA SAGE WAR CEMETERY, 10. D. 9. 1318117 Sgt W.J.Higgs KIA SAGE WAR CEMETERY, 10. D. 5. R/103766 Sgt A.F.MacDonald RCAF KIA SAGE WAR CEMETERY, 10. D. 6. Record for Halifax W7938 on lostaircraft.com
Halifax W7938 crashed end of Delmenhorst- Stickgras. The dead crew members were first burial at the former Russian cemetery in Vechta, today "Waldfriedhof".Salvaged by Air Base Vechta. I'm in possession of a photo of the crashed Halifax. friendly regards Volker Urbansky v.urbansky@t-online.de
Volker, thanks for the details of the crash W.7938 and the photo/documents. As you know my Mother's partner's, brother F/O Frederick Buchanan 108149 RAFVR born 22 Feb 1916, was piloting this Halifax W7938 on the raid of 3/4th Feb 1943 to Hamburg when he was killed. He is buried at Sage War Cemetery Grave 10 D 7.The details I know of are as follows: 3rd / 4th February 1943: Halifax MkII - W7938 EY-U “Rothman U~Uncle” Information Built by Handley Page (Cricklewood & Radlett) this particular aircraft was delivered to 78 Sqn between 2nd October and 13th December 1942 The crew were briefed to attack Hamburg. The ATD of the aircraft from RAF Linton on Ouse, Yorkshire was 18:15 In addition to his grave, F/O Buchanan is also (indirectly) remembered on; the BCM in Green Park London, the 78 WWII memorial at Bubwith and the 78 Sqn Memorial at RAF Benson
Yesterday eyewitnesses showed me the crash site on a field in Stickgras/Delmenhorst. It was very difficult to explore the site with my metal detector becuase there was a high voltage line in the air. Many interference signals but I found two very smal pieces and now the crash site is cleared./localized. W7938 was shot by Flak.