Memorial Crash Handley Halifax Mk B.II LW231 VR-F

This monument in the shape of a Drenthe boulder commemorates the perished crew of the Canadian Halifax bomber LW231 VR-F, which crashed about 1,600 metres from this site on 22 November 1943.

The aircraft of 419 Squadron RCAF had taken off that evening from RAF Middleton St George as part of a total of 776 Allied bombers that had taken off from various airfields in England. Their aim was to bomb the cities of Berlin and Leverkusen.

There were few German night fighters in the air that night, but the very W231 was picked up and fired on the outward flight. Before hitting the ground, the aircraft dropped two more bombs that did not explode but struck deep craters in the ground.

The perished crew members, six Canadians and one Briton, who were all aged between 18 and 21, are buried in Diever General Cemetery.

On board were the crew members:
P/O William Langenbeck Hunter, RCAF, age 21
F/O Richard John Newman, RCAF, age 21
Sgt. Malcolm Archie McKellar, RCAF, age 21
Sgt. George Alexander Howitson, RCAF, age 21
W/O Cl.II Joseph Alexander Lesage, RCAF, age 22
Sgt. George Alexander May, RCAF, age 19
Sgt. Wilbert Blare Jones RAF, 18 years

The memorial is located behind the Forestry Commission nature campsite, behind the (broadcasting) mast and then 300 metres into the woods on the left of the Hunter path.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Herma de Vries
• - https://www.gemeentediever.nl/wo-ii/xxxx/index.html
• - https://www.verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl/ahome/lossregister/results?aircraft=&sglo=&date=22-11-43&location=&pn=&unit=&name=&cemetery=&airforceP=RCAF&target=&province=Drenthe&airfield=
• - https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/51232