SPITFIRE AT MALDEGEMSPITFIRE AT MALDEGEM WIZERNESWIZERNES OPENSOPENS DAMBUSTERS’ BOMBS RECOVERYDAMBUSTERS’ BOMBS RECOVERY THE BATTLE OF THEALPSTHE BAT...
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THE BATTLE OF THE ALPS
DAMBUSTERS’ BOMBS RECOVERY WIZERNES OPENS SPITFIREbAT MALDEGEM
Number 97
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Last respects in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery just outside Maldegem. L-R: Fernand Elias, Alex Martens, Boudewijn de Schepper and, saluting, Frank Raeman. On the right stands John Reid, the pilot’s brother, with his wife. Extensive enquiries in RAF records and those of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have so far been unable to positively confirm the identity of the body buried there, but we believe it could be that of a Belgian pilot serving with No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron of the RAF who went missing on November 13, 1943 during a sweep over the Belgian coast in the area of the village containing the grave. He was Flight Sergeant Michel de Hepcée but conclusive evidence — or an explanation as to how the mix-up occurred with Squadron Leader Reid who crashed the following year some 50 kilometres away — has so far not been forthcoming. Our investigations continue. . . . The same day, the new grave was marked by the erection of the headstone transferred from the old.
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