Family of dead WWII airman sought
The RAF is trying to trace the family of a Kent airman
killed during World War II after what were believed to be
his remains were found 63 years later.
Sgt John Robinson, from the Sevenoaks area, died when his
Stirling bomber crashed in the Netherlands in 1942.
The RAF wants to find his next-of-kin so that he can be
buried with full military honours.
Spokeswoman Sue Raftree said it was known that he was born
in the Somerset town of Weston-super-Mare in 1919.
Children unknown
She said Sgt Robinson, who was the flight engineer on board
the plane, joined the RAF straight from school in 1937, and
married Ethel Mary Hall four years later.
The only other information known is that his wife was living
in Charing Heath, in Kent, at the time of their marriage and
had moved to Sevenoaks by the time he died. It is not known
if they had any children.
After the aircraft crashed near Bentelo on 28 August 1942,
following a raid over Germany, it is believed the bodies of
two of the seven crew were recovered, while a third person
jumped from the plane but his parachute failed to open.
The aircraft was then left where it crashed until May of
this year, when it was excavated by the Dutch Army recovery
team who found three sets of human remains.
RAF spokeswoman Sue Raftree said they were also trying to
trace the families of Flt Sgt K Wakefield, from Bedford, Sgt
LE Moss, from Coventry, and Sgt PS Sharman, from Liverpool.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ms Raftree
on 01452 712612, extension 6303.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4268066.stm |
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