2RHPZ
09-05-2005, 03:49 AM
RAF wartime bomber crew finally laid to rest
By Kate Connolly in Berlin
(Filed: 02/09/2005)
The haunting strains of Last Post drifted across Berlin's Military Cemetery yesterday as the remains of five members of an RAF bomber's crew were buried 61 years after it was shot down.
The remains were found two years ago in a field south of Berlin, tangled in the wreckage of their Halifax LW 430, shot down by Luftwaffe nightfighters.
About 25 relatives gathered in Berlin for the ceremony in which the men were buried with full military honours.
Brothers and sisters of the men, aged between 22 and 31 at the time of their deaths, paid tribute to their bravery before laying flowers at the grave.
Just one coffin, containing the remains and draped in the Union Flag, was lowered into the ground by members of the RAF's Queen's Colour Squadron.
The grave was marked by a single headstone with the words "Five airmen of the 1939-45 war, members of the crew of Halifax LW 430" engraved on it.
Telegraph (http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/02/nraf02.xml&site=5)
By Kate Connolly in Berlin
(Filed: 02/09/2005)
The haunting strains of Last Post drifted across Berlin's Military Cemetery yesterday as the remains of five members of an RAF bomber's crew were buried 61 years after it was shot down.
The remains were found two years ago in a field south of Berlin, tangled in the wreckage of their Halifax LW 430, shot down by Luftwaffe nightfighters.
About 25 relatives gathered in Berlin for the ceremony in which the men were buried with full military honours.
Brothers and sisters of the men, aged between 22 and 31 at the time of their deaths, paid tribute to their bravery before laying flowers at the grave.
Just one coffin, containing the remains and draped in the Union Flag, was lowered into the ground by members of the RAF's Queen's Colour Squadron.
The grave was marked by a single headstone with the words "Five airmen of the 1939-45 war, members of the crew of Halifax LW 430" engraved on it.
Telegraph (http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/02/nraf02.xml&site=5)