Crash Site Lancaster LL 810-BQ-K Lichtervelde

On May 28th 1944 the British Lancaster LL 810-BQ-K (550 Sqdn RAF) crashed some 200m south from this spot. After a successful bombing raid on Aachen Rothe Erde, the plane was returning to its base in North Killinghome (UK). It was shot down by enemy aircraft, exploded in the air and came down in flames. Human bodies and aircraft debris were scattered over a wide perimeter. The next day the German authorities collected what human remains they could find and had them buried at the Municipal Cemetery in Wevelgem. Aon August 2nd farmer Henri Van Clooster discovered two more corpses when harvesting a field of rye. They were also buried in Wevelgem, alongside their comrades in arms, making a total of seven casualties, four British and three Canadian.
Their names:
Sergeant Charles Aidan Bonner, Air Gunner, RAF Volunteer Reserve
Sergeant Albert Henry Brown, Air Gunner, RAF Volunteer Reserve
Sergeant Ronald Archibald Drury, Flight Engineer, RAF Volunteer Reserve
Sergeant Arthur Graham Hall, Radio Operator/Air Gunner, RAF Volunteer Reserve
Pilot Officer Frank George Lebano, Air Bomber, RCAF
Pilot Officer Donald McCrae, Pilot, RCAF
Flying Officer Martin Shapiro, Navigator, RCAF.

Source: information board

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Source

• Text: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• Photos: Luc Van Waeyenberge