Edwin Frederick Dowdell was born in 1917, son of Phillip and Florence Elizabeth Dowdell; husband of Alice Dowdell, of Kilburn, Middlesex.

He was an pilot who had probably already completed a tour with 83 Squadron. He was posted to 1654 Conversion Unit. At this unit air crews who had been flying on twin engine planes were trained to fly heavy, four engine, bombers.

On the night of 13/14 September 1942, the Royal Air Force attacked the city of Bremen. 466 planes, including aircraft form Operational Training Units and Conversion Units.

[no crest available]

 1654 Conversion Unit

P/O Edwin Dowdell captained Lancaster I W4108. The other crew members were: P/O Patrick Vivian (navigator) from Christchurch, New Zealand, Flight Sergeant John Adams (air Bomber) from Canada,  Sgt reginald Moss (air gunner) from Plymouth, F/S Robert Robertson (wireless operator) from Plymouth, Sgt Percy Jones (air gunner) from Pontllanfraith, Monmouthshire and Sergeant George Walker (flight engineer) from Pleasley Hill, Nottinghamshire.

They took off from their base Wigsley in Nottinghamshire at 23.30. At 02.22 it was intercepted and shot down by a night fighter, flown by Oblt. Becker of 6./NJG2. the plane crashed on the land of the farm belonging to the Kleistra brothers at the Buytenweg near Oudehorne, some 10 kilometers east of Heerenveen.

The whole crew perished and are buried at Nieuwehorne Protestant Cemetery.

P/O Dowdell is buried at Nieuwehorne Protestant Cemetery, Row 14. Grave 30. He was 25.

(Picture by Wim Bastiaanse)

Nieuwehorne, The Netherlands

See also:
P/O Patrick Vivian
F/S John Adams
Sgt Reginald Moss
F/S Robert Robertson
Sgt George Walker
Sgt Percy Jones

Sources:
Erroll W. Martyn, For Your Tomorrow, Vol. I, Volplane Press Christchurch 1998
Ab A. Jansen, Wespennest Leeuwarden, Vol. I, Baarn 1976

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

Directions to Nieuwehorne Protestant Cemetery

Posted 23 August 2005

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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