Francis Donovan Ayerst was from Bognor Regis, Sussex. He was married to Joan Clare Ayerst.

Sgt Ayerst was a wireless operator/air gunner with 12 Squadron.

His crew consitsted of:

S/L F.J.Knight
Sgt E.F.Lawrence
P/O H.C.Treherne RCAF
F/S M.P.Noble
Sgt F.D.Ayerst
F/S F.Birkin
Sgt J.R.Boxall

12 Squadron

On the night of 29 June 1943 Bomber Command attacked the city of Cologne. Sgt Ayerst crew took off in Lancaster EE195 GZ-B at 23.09 on 28 June 1943 from their base at Wickenby. They are presumed to have crashed in the sea off the coast of Holland.

Four are buried in Dutch cemeteries and three are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Sgt Ayerst was 31 and is buried at Castricum Protestant Cemetery, Plot J, grave 4.

 

Castricum, The Netherlands

See also:
S/L F.J.Knight
Sgt E.F.Lawrence
P/O H.C.Treherne RCAF
F/S Mervyn Noble
Sgt F.D.Ayerst
F/S F.Birkin
Sgt J.R.Boxall

Other casualties of 12 Squadron buried in The Netherlands

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office
Lostbombers

Directions to Castricum Protestant Cemetery

Posted 20 December 2004
Updated 23 January 2009

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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