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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Bonnie Lassie on Friday 17 February 06 03:35 GMT (UK)
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My cousin, Robert Norval CUNNINGHAM, was a gunner aboard an ill-fated Lancaster, Serial No. LM429 which crashed on May 11, 1944 while on a bombing mission to Lille. The 50th Squadron crew members took off from Skellingthorpe, at 22 16 hrs on the night of May 10, 1944.
I am posting the names of the crew members, with the hope that some of their survivors may contact us:
McFARLAN, Frank Stuart - Age 20 - Pilot Officer
Parents - Charles and Emily McFARLAN - Wallasey, Chesire
INGRAM, Douglas St. Clair - Age ? - Sgt. Flight Engineer
Born in UK
ELLIOTT, James Reginald - Age 20 - Flt. Sgt. Navigator
Parents - Reginald Wm. and Katie ELLOTT - Quinton, Birmingham
BALL, Donald Faulkner - Age 22 - Flt. Sgt. Air Gunner
Parents - Charles Sydney and Florence BALL - Beeches, Surrey
CRAVEN, Leonard - Age 22 - Sgt (W op/Air Gunner
Parents - Fred and Agnes CRAVEN - New Farnley, Leed, Yorkshire
ROSS, Wallace Milton - Age 21 - Pilot Officer/Air Gunner
Parents - David Morrison and Kate ROSS - Dirleton, Alberta Canada - RCAF
CUNNINGHAM, Robert Norval - Age 22 - Sgt/Air Gunner
Parents - George and Mary Dougan CUNNINGHAM - Peekskill, NY (formerly of Glasgow, Scotland) - RCAF
Hopefully someone will find a connection to one of these brave young airmen.
Bonnie Lassie
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Hello ,
You probably will have this information , anyway :
Lancaster III LM-429 crashed near Oostvleteren Belgium , shot down by Hptm Breves Adolf IV./NJG1 0001 hrs 2nd victory. The crew is buried at the Oostvleteren churchyard
:)
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Hi
If you have not already done so it might be worth contacting 50 Sqns Association - Gerry Collins, 35 Wetherby Crescent, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 8SY: tel 01522 681482 [FWH 02/01] a personal site: http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/garlandb/bomber.html as they might be able to help you. Members of families are very welcome by the assns and you never know you there might be one of the vets who remembers your family member.
Good luck with getting more details and contacts as it helps to fill in the gaps.
Dee
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Thank you so much for the additional information regarding the death of my cousin, Bobby and the other members of the crew.
A strange coincidence, is that his Uncle -- also named Robert Norval Cunningham -- was killed in Belgium during WW1 (he belonged to the Royal Scottish Brigade). His grave is about 10 miles from Bobby's.
Best wishes,
Bonnie Lassie
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Hi Bonnie
afraid I can't add anything directly but if I may correct one point - there's no "th" in RAF squadrons. It should read 50 Squadron. It may sound pedantic but I can assure you that many RAF veterans get a bit peeved by this americanism too :)
K
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Actually our Bobby was born in Scotland and came to the USA as a child. When WWII was declared in the US, he tried to enlist in the armed service. He did not have American citizenship so his request was denied. His determination to serve, took him to Canada where he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. His unit was attached to the RAF 50 Squadron at Skillingthorpe. Whether you add a "th" or not, the dedicated members of the armed forces were all fighting on the same side, regardless of whatever petty differences may still exist.
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Hi Bonnie Lass
We Brits are really grateful to anyone who fought on our side and especially people like Bobby who didnt have to that early. RAF Skellingthorpe has lots of information on the web and I believe there is a memorial room in Birchwood Community Centre, Birchwood Road Lincoln (on site of RAF Skellingthorpe) which if you ever get over here would be worth a visit. They were based there twice from 26/11/41 to 20/06/42 and 17/10/42 to 15/06/45...
Dee
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Hello ,
Please find here some pictures of the Oostvleteren cemetery
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Thank you much. Best wishes, from Bonnie Lassie
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Here's another one
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Hello everyone with regards to LM429.
My brother was Wallace Milton Ross. I have a photograph of his crew in front of the aircraft. I don't know when the picture was taken or who the other crew member were, if anyone could tell us who the gentlemen are we would be grateful, Wallace is the last one standing on the right. Please see the following attachment.
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If you can scan and post it the guys on here will try and tie down that information for you.... :)
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Hello, I have posted an attachment with the picture of Wallace Milton Ross and his crew. Please have a look and see if you can recognize anyone.
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Hi
Cant tie down exact dates but 50 Sqn had Lancaster Is & IIIs from May 1942 to Nov 1946. Ties it down a bit but not much.
I would suggest emailing a copy of the photo to the 50 Sqn Assn as they may have other photos in the guys in it.
Good luck
Dee
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Hello everyone,
I live about 200 metres from the graves of this crew, here in Oostvleteren, and presumably only a couple of hundred metres of the crashsite itself.
I've been a Royal Air force collector for several years now and I'm planning on opening an exposition in the very near future in the town here about this particular aircraft.
I have already found some info about the crew, the plane, the circumstances ... but I'm still looking for more.
I have several eye-witness accounts and some relics in my possesion.
Any help would be welcome, let me know if I can help out some of you guys.
Kindest regards,
Filip
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Hello everyone with regards to LM429.
My brother was Wallace Milton Ross. I have a photograph of his crew in front of the aircraft. I don't know when the picture was taken or who the other crew member were, if anyone could tell us who the gentlemen are we would be grateful, Wallace is the last one standing on the right. Please see the following attachment.
Dear VRoss, A gentleman named Alan sent me a copy of the photo you posted in 2005. My cousin Bobby Cunningham (2nd from right). is standing next to your brother Wallace. The crew left to right are Don, Bombadier --Jim, Navigator -- Mac, Pilot -- Bobby, mid-upper gunner -- Wally rear gunner, kneeling are Len, Wireless Operator and Doug, Flight Engineer. Their plane was downed by flak on May 11, 1944
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It is so interesting to know that you live in such close proximity to Oostvleteren Cemetery in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. That is where my cousin, Robert Norval Cunningham was buried in collective grave 11, along with the crew members of Lancaster "LM 429" - May 1944.
His uncle, for whom he was named, Robert Norval Cunningham, 356852, 1st/10th Bn. The King's Liverpool Regiment died on June 2, 1917, while serving in WWI. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, also in Belgium. Can you tell us the proximity of the two cemeteries?
Thank you for any information you can provide to us. Bonnie Lassie
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I am so glad when coincidences of fate bring people together on these sites. :)
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Dear Lads,
Lijsenthoek cemetery is only 15 minutes away from Oostvleteren churchyard. I would say 15 Km from where I live.
The cemetery lies near Poperinge. In WWI, the cemetery was next to a farmhouse. The farmhouse was used as a field hospital for severly wounded men. After the war many men of the chinese labour corps were buried there (over 10.000 Commonwealth soldirs lie there). To the locals the farmhouse (wich hasn't changed a bit since then) is known as Remi farm.
I would be happy to guide you around, if you're ever in the country.
To bring us back to LM429. I have received parts of the landing gear recently.
We have located the exact spot of the crash and have found evidence of the wreck still lying there, several feet down.
I would like to open up temporay exhibition next year about LM429 consisting of parts of the wreck and original uniforms.
Kindest regards,
Filip
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Dear Filip, I have been in Belgium in recent years, but was unaware of the gravesite where our relative is buried. Just returned from the UK, where we visited Skellingthorpe, the airfield where the ill-fated Lancaster took off on May 10, 1944.
The Uncle of my Cousin Robert -- also named Robert Norval Cunningham died in WWI and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium. Can you tell us the approximate distance between the two burial sites?
We live in Florida, adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center, and, unfortunately we have not been traveling abroad as much. Thank you so much for sharing the information with us.
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@Bonnie Lassie: The exact distance between Oostveteren military cemetary and Lijssenthoek cemetery is 12,9 Km (8 miles) I looked it up 8)
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Thank you so much for the information
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Dear Filip,
I spoke with my cousin Jean (now 85 years old). She was the sister of Robert Norval Cunningham, the second. She told me that Robert was first declared missing in May 1944 and it took a year before the family received notification of his death. He had flown on many missions and was close to concluding the mandatory 25 missions.
Do you have pictures of any of the wreckage of the Lancaster? All five of Robert's siblings are still alive and are in their upper 80's to lower 7-'S. They are very grateful for any information relating to their late brother. Do you know if the crew was awarded any medals posthumously? My email address is nfuhrer@bellsouth.net. Thank you so much for the information you have given us. Bonnie Jean
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Hi Jean, someone will correct me if l am wrong but l think the mandatory tour of ops was 30. (Though it may have been increased from 25 early on).
All the crew should have received at least three medals at the end of the war, either personally or posthumously.....
I am the proud holder of my late Uncles medals (handed down to me)...
Aircrew Europe Star
1939-45 Star
1939-45 War Medal.
Kyt will be your expert for any other awards.
Steve.
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This is a link to the Imperial War Museum enquiry service http://iwm.altarama.com/reft000.aspx and they have lots of photographs. I wonder if they might be able to look and see if they have a picture of that particular aircraft.
Dee
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Hi, I saw your posting trying to find relatives of Lancaster bomber pilot, Frank Stuart McFarlan.
I am his great neice although you have spelt his name incorrectly and it is in fact spelt McFarlin.
I still have his four medals in the original MOD box and a photo of his grave in Belgium.
Nina
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Hi,
I live in Oostvleteren too, near the church and the graveyard. I am a friend of Filip. We love to do something this year to commemorate 75 years of the crash. Any interest of you to help / come over for a ceremony?