Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Sleen

There are now 16, 1939-1945 war casualties commemorated on Sleen General Cemetery.

On February 3, 1943, a Halifax of the Royal Canadian Air Force en route to Hamburg was shot above Schoonloo and fires crashed. Three crew members managed to save themselves with a parachute and were taken prisoner of war. The aircraft burned down completely and the bodies of the other four crew members were later recovered. The graves are listed according to the order, from the first grave on the left:
graves:
1: Pilot officer J.D. Mackenzie , pilot Royal Canadian Air Force age 21
2: Warrant Officer II R.H. Hill , wireless operator Royal Canadian Air Force age 23
3: Sergeant W.P. Duthie , flight engineer Royal Canadian air force age 21
4: Warrant Officer II L.A. Connett , wireless operator Royal Canadian Air Force age 22

On May 14, 1943, a four-engined Handley Page Halifax bomber of the Royal Air Force crashed in the woods of Sleenerzand. During the return flight after a bombing raid on Bochum at 02:30 am above German-Dutch border area near Emmen, the plane was set on fire by a German night fighter. Above the forestry, the machine swerved, lost a portion, and crashed.
graves:
5: Sergeant G.S. Walton wireless operator Royal Air Force age 27
6: Flying Officer D.P. Puddephatt pilot Royal Air Force
7: Sergeant J.I.P. Morgan navigator Royal Air Force age 22
8: Sergeant A.W. Mckillop gunner Royal Air Force age 29
9: Sergeant M.J.H. Brookes flight engineer Royal Air Force age 21
10: Sergeant L.W. Bolton navigator bombe Air Force r
11: Sergeant R.A. Halestrap air gunner age 21 Royal Air Force

On May 28, 1943, at 1:51 am in the hamlet of Den Hool, a four-engine Handley Page Halifax Mk.II bomber of the Royal Air Force crashed. Of the seven-man crew, five were killed. The crew members killed are:
graves:
12: Sergeant E.S. Buck air gunner Royal Air Force
13: Sergeant E.B. Blackbarow air gunner Royal Air Force
14: Sergeant S.G. Beattie air bomber Royal Air Force age 21
15: Flying Officer G. Rawlinson pilot Royal Air Force age 24
16: Sergeant J. Howarth flight engineer Royal Air Force age 22

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Source

• Text: Dick de Bruijne, Fedor de Vries
• Photos: Dick de Bruijne (1, 2, 3), Stefan Meekers (4)