Brunssum, the Netherlands – The 79th Anniversary of the tragic loss of Lancaster Bomber R5701, with a crew of 7, on 5th October 1942 took place today at the Lancaster Bomber Memorial, in Brunssum.
Members of the British Armed Forces stood alongside local community leaders and members of the public, in respectful contemplation of the harsh consequences of War.
On the evening of the 5th of October 1942, the Lancaster took off from RAF Woodhall Spa for a bombing raid on Aachen. Heavy anti-aircraft fire and engagements with enemy aircraft, together with extremely poor weather conditions, led the aircraft to crash on that day. The crew members never returned to their homes and were subsequently laid to rest, together, at Jonkerbos War Cemetery, in Nijmegen.
The crew of Lancaster R5701 was as follows:
Flying Officer Neville Briant DFC
Flying Officer Leslie Dorward DFC RAAF
Flying Officer Kenneth Harrison DFM
Sergeant John Dawson
Sergeant Augustus Desmond
Sergeant Kenneth MacKay DFM
Sergeant Albert Musgrave
Wreaths were laid by:
Wing Commander Toby Sawbridge RAF – On behalf of the British contingent at JFC Brunssum
Mayor Wilma Van der Rijt – On behalf of the municipality of Brunssum
Squadron Leader (Retired) Rex Thomson RAF – On behalf of the Royal Air Force Association, Limburg