RAF4EVER Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 (edited) Remains of WW2 pilot buried 78 years after fatal flight A London-born WW2 pilot has been buried, 78 years after he was killed in action. Flt Sgt William Robert Stephen Hurrell, from East Ham, died when his RAF Typhoon was hit by an enemy plane over Arnhem in September 1944. His remains were discovered in 2019 after Dutch authorities excavated the crash site on farmland near the village of Eefde, Lochem in the Netherlands. He was buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery in the Netherlands. The pilot was flying in a formation of six aircraft on an armed reconnaissance north of Arnhem when they were attacked by up to 60 enemy fighter planes. The service was attended by members of Flt Sgt Hurrell's family, who had travelled from Australia, representatives of the RAF, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, and dignitaries from the municipality of Lochem. His great niece Brydie Hurrell, said: "We grew up knowing that Bill was shot down at the end of the war and that his parents had never found him. We knew he was in the Netherlands - we just weren't sure where exactly. "When we heard about the salvage project we were over the moon. Representing the rest of my family back home means a lot. "Bill's parents and his brother, my grandfather, died never knowing where he was, but we now have closure for them and for ourselves." Tracey Bowers, of the Ministry of Defence, said: "It has been an absolute privilege to arrange this ceremony for Flt Sgt William Hurrell and I am grateful for the help given by the community of Lochem. "I am honoured to stand alongside his military and blood family to pay him this final tribute." After leaving Downham Market, Norfolk, on 29 March 1943 for a raid on Berlin, the group's flight was designated "missing believed killed". The crash site was later located in Lake Markermeer and, in 2020, the remains were removed. Mods please move to chat,thank you Edited October 2, 2022 by RAF4EVER wrong topic 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circloy Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1159 Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 RIP at last 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Robin Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 Long may this brave man's sacrifice be honoured. A very humbled Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 (edited) R.I.P. Sir … Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and everyone’s freedom. Edited October 2, 2022 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthemodeller Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 I intend to no disrespect to the deceased but how could his flight leave Downham Market in March 1943 but he not be shot down until September 1944? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 11 hours ago, brianthemodeller said: I intend to no disrespect to the deceased but how could his flight leave Downham Market in March 1943 but he not be shot down until September 1944? And I'm sure they were not doing a raid on Berlin. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF4EVER Posted October 3, 2022 Author Share Posted October 3, 2022 (edited) On 02/10/2022 at 09:13, RAF4EVER said: Remains of WW2 pilot buried 78 years after fatal flight A London-born WW2 pilot has been buried, 78 years after he was killed in action. Flt Sgt William Robert Stephen Hurrell, from East Ham, died when his RAF Typhoon was hit by an enemy plane over Arnhem in September 1944. His remains were discovered in 2019 after Dutch authorities excavated the crash site on farmland near the village of Eefde, Lochem in the Netherlands. He was buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery in the Netherlands. The pilot was flying in a formation of six aircraft on an armed reconnaissance north of Arnhem when they were attacked by up to 60 enemy fighter planes. The service was attended by members of Flt Sgt Hurrell's family, who had travelled from Australia, representatives of the RAF, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, and dignitaries from the municipality of Lochem. His great niece Brydie Hurrell, said: "We grew up knowing that Bill was shot down at the end of the war and that his parents had never found him. We knew he was in the Netherlands - we just weren't sure where exactly. "When we heard about the salvage project we were over the moon. Representing the rest of my family back home means a lot. "Bill's parents and his brother, my grandfather, died never knowing where he was, but we now have closure for them and for ourselves." Tracey Bowers, of the Ministry of Defence, said: "It has been an absolute privilege to arrange this ceremony for Flt Sgt William Hurrell and I am grateful for the help given by the community of Lochem. "I am honoured to stand alongside his military and blood family to pay him this final tribute." After leaving Downham Market, Norfolk, on 29 March 1943 for a raid on Berlin, the group's flight was designated "missing believed killed". The crash site was later located in Lake Markermeer and, in 2020, the remains were removed. Mods please move to chat,thank you Taken from the BBC Indeed, it's the BBC news item that seems to have confused two different stories. The orginal news release from the MoD is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-airman-laid-to-rest-78-years-after-fatal-flight ...And heres the 'other' story, about a Stirling crew (on the money, cabbage!), lost in 1943... https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ww2-burial-in-the-netherlands Both stories are re-burials of WWII RAF crews at Jonkerbos in the Netherlands, and only one day apart, so I guess the confusion is understandable. Edited October 3, 2022 by RAF4EVER Links 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthemodeller Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 That makes sense - I hadn’t seen the second story. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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