WIX Archives
Re: Canadian Pilots remains found in Holland
Posted by andy saunders on Tue Sep 17, 2002 10:10:36 AM
In reply top Re: Canadian Pilots remains found in Holland posted by Steve Young on Tue Sep 17, 2002 09:10:53 AM
As you say Steve, very sobering! It gives me a chance to bang my old drum, though! On the Runnymede Memorial there are the names of 20,436 missing RAF aircrew from the NW Europe Theatre of War. At the end of the war there were 40,000 missing RAF aircrew but by the time the Missing Research & Enquiry Units had been wound up in the late 1940's (why??)the number had been almost exactly halved. Now, we are still having missing RAF aircrew found either by accident or by aviation recovery groups all across Europe while the US authorities have proactively sought out their missing from all wars and continue to do so. As I write this, investigations are ongoing into a possible "missing" Belgian pilot found by a private group in a Spitfire (RAF) in Germany just recently whilst the remains of Wg Cdr Adrian Warburton DSO DFC have also reportedly been found by a private researcher in Germany within the last few weeks. The British Govt (MOD) have steadfastly refused to conduct this research and yet we (and obviously they do, too!!) know where there are literally dozens if not scores or hundreds of these missing airmen are - in the UK and Europe. And yet the families are unaware. Should not the MOD do something proactively? They say they dont have the money or resources. Oddly though, they found 1.3 million pounds (UK sterling) to prosecute someone (!) for an alleged offence under the Protection of Military Remains Act even re-exacavating the crash site. The outcome? Huge amount of egg on face for MOD who had to refund costs in the case (?40,000)and yet the site was 500 metres from the site of a Spitfire (P/O C.Barber) which I recovered for the family in 1986 at my own expense after the MOD had declined to recover the aircraft and pilots body for the family because it "...was too costly and impractical". Well, it wasnt too costly for me..or impractical, either! Ironic,eh? Its a funny old world. Andy Saunders. PS Look out for the next After the Battle Magazine for the full story of the court case referred to above!