The remains of a 49 Squadron crew have been found together with the wreckage of their Lancaster at Laumersheim, near Frankfurt.
A team led by amateur archeologist Uwe Benkel discovered the remains of a Rolls-Royce engine and landing gear of the bomber, along with other fragments.
Benkel said: ‘It doesn’t make a difference if they are German or British – they were young men who fought and died for their country for which they deserve a proper burial.’
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| F/O Alex Bone |
The seven-strong crew comprised the pilot, flying officer Alex Bone (31), engineer sergeant Norman Foster (22), navigator sergeant Cyril Yelland (23), wireless operator sergeant Raymond White, bomb aimer sergeant Raymond Rooney (19) mid-upper gunner sergeant Ronald Cope (23) and rear gunner pilot officer Bruce Watt (22).
Lancaster ED427 (EA-O) was one of 327 bombers that took part in a raid on the Skoda armaments works at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, in March 1943.
Returning to base at RAF Fiskerton, Lincolnshire, the aircraft was hit by flak. Witness Peter Menges (now 83) saw the Lancaster coming down in flames. It was one of 36 bombers which failed to make it back that night.
Following the crash, the German air force recovered two bodies from the site, believed to have been those of sergeants Cope and Watt, and arranged their burial.
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| Sgt Cope |
Sgt Foster’s daughter Hazel Snedker was three when he was killed at the age of 22. Mrs Snedker, now 72, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said: ‘I can remember my mother fainting when she received the telegram saying he was missing. In those days very little was spoken about it and you just carried on.
‘My mother died from tuberculosis when I was six years old and I was bought up by my paternal grandparents. I know that they quietly hoped that there would be some news of their son.
‘After all these years, it is a great relief to know what happened to him. At least he will now have a grave with a headstone.’
The remains of the airmen will be buried in the same coffin at a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Germany.
Mr Benkel said: ‘They flew together and died together. It’s right that they should now rest together.’
