Some information can be found here: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2620180/shepherd,-raymond/
Information on memorial we are building can be found here: https://davevancoolwijk.wixsite.com/halifaxmonument
I am looking for background stories and photographs of Raymond.
Any information or help is more than welcome!
Kind regards,
David van Coolwijk
'
Hi David,
As one who was casually browsing down the WW.II threads & a lifelong fan of the Handley Page Halifax myself, I was naturally drawn to your thread.
I did click on your 'memorial' thread link, but it isn't working as of April 2019.
I was however interested finding another Dutch 'nl' link, giving the Squadron-codes, serial number & full crew list & further details.
I naturally assume that you've already seen this & know all the details anyhow ?
I figured I'd pass the link along, if not, just in case it might be overlooked or not known of ?
It might also be of use to those reading this thread & not knowing the back-story, or full crew.
http://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/68.htmlDate: 1943 May 01 A/C Type: Halifax II Serial: JB803 Code: KN-G A/C Nickname:
File: 68 Airforce: RAF Sqn/Unit: 77 Sqn Mission/Raid: Essen
1 Pilot Sgt. Gordon Watson KIA, buried Muiden
2 CP/Obs Sgt. Ian Crawford KIA, buried Muiden
3 Fl Eng/AG F/O Arthur E. Parsons RCAF KIA, buried Muiden
4 WO/AG Sgt. William R. Louth MIA
5 WO/AG Sgt. Raymond Shepherd KIA, buried Muiden
6 Gunner Sgt. Leon Hannan KIA, buried Muiden
7 Rear Gnr Sgt. Thomas D. Scarff RCAF KIA, buried Muiden
Night 30 April/01 May 1943, on route to Essen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Essen was the target, so it's almost certain the aiming-point would be the town's famous "Krupp" works.
(singlehandedly, the No.1 target, in Essen)
Lastly, I made a 1/72nd scale Merlin-engined Halifax myself, many years ago....
My RCAF Matchbox kit I made in 1989/1990 by
Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr
To all intents & purposes, it's the same as the plane involved in this thread, but it has the slightly later "oblong" fins, rather than the earlier type "triangular" fins of Raymond Shepard's Mk.II,
"JB.803", in which he sadly lost his life.
Please forgive me if any of the above links or picture is of no use.
Would still be keen to know of the memorial that you mentioned you were building....