WELCOME
Photo taken in February 2025; the project is still ongoing, with completion pending the arrival of
The Airfield Cairn memorial stands as a poignant tribute to those who served at RAF Downham Market and made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, fighting for freedom from a bomber airfield located in rural Norfolk. A total of one hundred and forty-six aircrews are listed as missing in action. Their courage and selflessness will be forever remembered.
The primary objective of this website is to honour these brave airmen, as well as those who endured years in prisoner-of-war camps. This site aims to provide more than just a list of names; it seeks to document the contributions of these young men from across the United Kingdom, the Dominions, the Commonwealth, the United States, and South Africa. These airmen were sons, brothers, fathers, husbands, and loved ones, and their absence, marked as "Missing," left behind grieving families.
The Airfield Cairn memorial is further enhanced by eight stainless steel plaques, which commemorate the losses of the aircrews and encircle the inner embankment of the memorial. Where possible, the site offers insights into the lives of the fallen, featuring candid photographs from their time at RAF Downham Market, as well as various training school photos.
Stephen C. Smith, a key figure with a long-standing association with the No. 218 and No. 623 Squadrons, played a crucial role in providing missing information that I was unable to locate, which he kindly allowed me to use to complete the details accurately. My research on the Prisoner of War data, now available online, is a result of collaboration with Ancestry.com, in addition to my own research over the past 30 years regarding the airfield's history and the Pathfinder history. This has helped me document the history of the No. 8 Group Pathfinder Force squadrons during their time stationed at the airfield from 1944 to 1945.
The information presented on this website is the result of a collaborative effort, utilising primary source material from Ancestry.com, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the National Archives, the Air Historical Branch, and RAF Hendon, as well as records from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. I extend my sincere gratitude to these organisations for their invaluable contributions, as well as to the numerous individuals and families we honour through this work. This collaboration has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
The recent release of many RAF-related documents, including the Air 81 Casualty Files, has significantly impacted this website. New material has been incorporated, although it may at times conflict with existing content. We want to ensure that you are aware of the potential for conflicting information, as this is a common challenge in historical research.
While I have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the details recorded on the website, I acknowledge that errors may still occur.
The website is organised at the top of the page by plaque number, flowing in order with the memorial; each plaque holds twenty aircrews listed in chronological order of when they were reported missing in action.
Christopher John Coverdale
July 2025
the stainless steel laser-engraved and filled plaques. We look forward to sharing more updates with you as the project progresses.