DOWNHAM MARKET AIRFIELD CAIRN MEMORIAL

REMEMBER THEM

This page honours the brave aircrews who served at RAF Downham Market between   1942 and 1945. Their sacrifice is a powerful reminder of the courage that shaped history, inspiring respect and gratitude in all who visit. We aim to pay our respects and honour their bravery, ensuring it is never forgotten. All aircrew losses are commemorated at the Downham Market Airfield Cairn Memorial. 

We honour the memory of each aircrew lost between 1942 and 1945 on the anniversary of their sacrifice. This remembrance includes those who were taken as Prisoners of War (P.o.W.), Killed in Action, or who successfully evaded capture. Their stories are reflected in the poem inscribed on the 8th Stainless Steel plaque at the Downham Market Airfield Cairn Memorial, fostering reverence and emotional connection. (Copyrights Chris Coverdale)

Poem & Image by Christopher Coverdale

Aircrews from 635 Squadron, No.8 Path Finder Force, gather near the aircrew locker rooms at RAF Downham Market after preparing for an operation. They are getting ready for collection by the MT transport lorry, which will take them to their dispersal points around the airfield. Sadly, 21 of the young airmen captured in this photo would not return from an operation over Kiel, Germany, on the night of August 26-27, 1944. This photo was taken by Flight Sergeant Jack Walmsley of RAF Downham Market Station Photographic Section. Photo Via Bill Herrick.

Eighty-one years ago, on 5/6 January 1945, we remember aircrew No. 133 on Plaque seven of the Downham Market Airfield Cairn Memorial.  Lancaster PB564 was shot down over Northern Holland (Netherlands) by Leutnant (Pilot Officer)  Otto-Heinrich Fries of II Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.

All the crew of PB564, along with the 2nd Pilot, survived. Six of the crew were captured as P.o.W. (Prisoners of War), two Evaded capture (EVD).  See Aircrew Details below.

Aircrew Losses by Christopher Coverdale

Photo by Flight Engineer Bill Herrick, with his skipper, Pilot Officer Bobby Vines, RAFVR, Front, behind is Bill Douglas and his skipper, Flight Lieutenant Ivor (Misty) Hayes, Front left  Artie Clayton,  Jim Steel and lying on the Engine F/Sgt. Johnny Emms. Quote: from  Bill Douglas in an interview with him in 1998. Oh my, this photo brings back how we all were back then. When we were not on operations, we would mix with various crews to pass the time. One crew we got along with very well was Bobby Vines and his crew. Misty was a keen Squash player, and so was Bobby Vines, and on stand-downs they would usually be working up a sweat in the squash courts." Photo via Bill Herrick

Eighty-one years ago, on 6/7 January 1945, we remember aircrew No. 134 on plaque seven of the Downham Market Airfield Cairn Memorial. Lancaster PB228. F2-N- Nut 

Aircrew Losses by Christopher Coverdale

Data researched by  Chris Coverdale. Original records held by naa.gov.au 

Above Flight Lieutenant James Anthony Rowland DFC & AFC, RAAF at RAF Downham Market 1944. Photo via fellow 635 Squadron Captain David Ware DFC, RAFVR.

Eighty-one years ago, on 7/8 January 1945, we remember aircrew No. 135 on plaque seven of the Downham Market Airfield Cairn Memorial.  Lancaster PB173 (F2-C- Charlie) 

Aircrew Losses by Christopher Coverdale

Photos via the Hendy & Clarke collection

Eighty-three years ago, on 27/28 January 1943, we remember aircrew No. 30 on plaque two of the Downham Market Airfield Cairn memorial.  Stirling  Mk. I. N6077 (HA-V- Victor) 

Aircrew Losses for 218 GC Squadron by  Stephen .C. Smith & Christopher Coverdale

All portrait  photos Ancestry.com

Arthur Gough and his crew began their Stirling conversion with 'B' Flight at No. 1651 Conversion Unit. They arrived from No. 19 Operational Training Unit on 13 July and were deemed ready for operations, receiving a posting to No. 218 Squadron by 23 August. Arthur served as the second pilot and carried out three operations. Their first operation occurred on 27 August, when he joined Squadron Leader 'Sammy' Samson for a raid on Kassel. The crew's first operation against Saarbrucken was on 19  September 1942. In October, they conducted eight operations, and in November, five. Interestingly, on 28 November, the Squadron Commanding Officer chose the crew to raid Turin, but Arthur was omitted; instead, a second pilot, Pilot Officer  William Blaise Cloutier from the RCAF, took his place. Cloutier had joined the squadron on 10 November. In December, the crew flew three operations, two of which were fatal. The crew was fortunate to survive on a trip to Fallersleben on 17 December. They were hit by flak over the Zuider Zee, which caused a fire in the port wing and significantly damaged the bomb doors and fuselage. The crew jettisoned their bombs and managed to turn back for home. The Stirling, BF406 HA-Q, was on its first operation. On the 20^th, they were hit by flak again, which, on this occasion, wounded the rear gunner. It would take almost two months to complete the necessary repairs. Arthur's last operation was on 20 December against Duisburg in veteran N3721 HA-P 'Peter.' Unfortunately, a month passed before their next operation, which, tragically, would turn out to be their final one. Write up by Stephen . C. Smith-218 Squadron Association.  

Charles Layley's grandmother was a Morris and related to Wing Commander Morris, Charles's C/O. Charles's elder brother, Ronald George, was killed on operations with No.7 PFF Squadron on 14 January 1944. The sole survivor, William Jackson, wrote two books, the first about his time with 218 Squadron, followed by one during his time as a PoW. The first was 'Three Stripes and Four Browning's', followed by 'Lone Survivor'. He was married at the time of his capture, and his wife served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Pilot Officer Kenneth Taylor was shot down on his second operation. While on the return flight, I hit the top of a hill in the cloud near Dassel, 13 miles east of Hoxter. (A strange route home) All the crew, apart from Jackson, were killed instantly. Write up by Stephen . C. Smith-218 Squadron Association. 

Eighty-three years ago, on 3 /4 February 1943, we remember aircrew No. 31 on plaque two of the Downham Market Airfield Cairn memorial.  Stirling  Mk. I. BF406 (HA-E- Easy)

Aircrew Losses for 218 GC Squadron by  Stephen .C. Smith & Christopher Coverdale

The crew of Sergeant Leslie Dodd began their Stirling conversion in late September 1942 with No. 1651 Conversion Unit. Their deployment to active service on Christmas Eve [1942] marks a notable milestone in their wartime journey.

This crew was notable because it included two Americans—Air Gunner Howard Traver, whose parents lived in Long Island, New York. Bomb Aimer Robert Lynn, who had been 'washed out' from pilot training with the U.S. Air Force, was from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, illustrating the diverse backgrounds of WWII aircrew in the RAF Bomber Command.

In January 1943, Leslie Dodd undertook operations as a second pilot, including a minelaying trip and a bombing raid on the docks at Lorient. Their three missions in January, starting with Lorient on the 15th, demonstrate their active engagement in critical wartime operations.

Their aircraft, Stirling BF406 HA-E, had only just returned from repair due to flak damage on 17 December when Arthur Gough and crew flew it.   Shot down by Oblt Manfred Meurer of 3. /NJG1 at 20.41hrs north of Arnhem. The Stirling crashed with its full bomb load near Deelen airfield; there were no survivors. Write up by Stephen . C. Smith-218 Squadron Association. 

 Photos via Ancestry .com 

Eighty-three years ago, on 3/4 February 1943, we remember aircrew No. 32 on plaque two of the Downham Market Airfield Cairn memorial.  Stirling  Mk. I. BF408 (HA-T- Tommy)

Aircrew Losses for 218 GC Squadron by  Stephen .C. Smith & Christopher Coverdale

Stanley Treves was an experienced bomber pilot. In November 1942, he flew two trips as a second pilot with Squadron Leader 'Sammy' Samson, including one to Turin, Italy. On 17 December 1942, most of the crew—Treves, Yoxall, Bostock, Dixon, Hargreaves, and Foster—joined from No. 1651 Conversion Unit. Over the next few weeks, the crew lineup changed. On 28 December 1942, Treves flew his first mission as captain with Sergeants Dixon, Yoxall, Foster, Bostock, Kennington, and Hargreaves. George Kennington had already flown five missions since arriving on 6 October 1942, mainly as a spare gunner. On 14 January 1943, the crew was pulled from a mine-laying mission at the last minute. The next night, they attacked Lorient with Sergeant A. Clarke as the replacement rear gunner, taking Kennington's place. The same crew flew against Lorient Docks on the 23rd. In February 1943, their first and last missions were to Hamburg, and the crew changed again. Sergeant Kennington returned to the rear turret, and Flying Officer Bellman, an experienced crew member, replaced Sergeant Dixon. George Bellman usually flew with Flying Officer James Neilson RNZAF, who completed 26 missions with 218 Squadron and received a DFC. Sadly, Bellman was killed while instructing with No. 1657 Conversion Unit in January 1944.

That night, the squadron lost a third of its young American airmen. Peter Clyde Astrosky flew his first and only mission with the squadron. He was born in Gillespie, Illinois, in October 1914 and had some flying experience before joining 218 Conversion Flight in September 1942. He went through No. 1657 Conversion Unit and joined No. 218 Squadron on 1 January 1943. Sergeant Thomas Dixon, who was fortunate not to fly on that tragic mission, later joined Flying Officer Neilson RNZAF's crew, replacing George Bellman. Sadly, Thomas was killed on 30 May 1943 while attacking Wuppertal with Flight Sergeant William Davis RAAF and his crew.

Stirling BF408 was shot down by Night Fighter Pilot Oblt Horst Pause of 1./NJG1 at 21:05 over the North Sea near Zoutelande, Zeeland. Write up by Stephen . C. Smith-218 Squadron Association.