Memorial For Second World War Bomber Crew Who Crashed Into French Village

French villagers have erected a memorial to the crew of a British Second World War bomber, which crashed into their main street. 

The Wellington T2897 of 149 Squadron was on its way back from a bombing mission in German occupied France when it was hit by flak and developed engine problems.

It crashed into the main street of St Sever Calvados in Normandy on 13 April 1941. 

The fireball from the disintegrating aircraft enveloped much of the village's main street, killing nine villagers and five of the six crew on board.

The Wellington crew, aged between 23 and 21, were killed: Pilot Officer Ronald Morison, Pilot Sergeant Ernest John Holland, Wireless operator Sergeant Ronald Hutchinson, Pilot Sergeant John Leo Westley and Gunner Sergeant Walter Hugh Wilkinson.

Before the Wellington came down, Gunner Sergeant Kenneth Rawlings was ordered to bail out. He was meant to help steer the Wellington away from the village by lighting a flare in a nearby field but it was too late.

He was subsequently captured by the Germans, after a farmer allegedly gave away his hiding place, and sent to a POW camp in Poland. After the war he became a Warrant Officer, married and moved to Birmingham.

A different fate awaited the farmer, who was labelled a traitor by the villagers of St Sever and executed by the French Resistance on D-Day in 1944.

Reports at the time suggest that despite losing members of their own families, hundreds of people defiantly turned out under the eyes of the Germans to pay tribute to the courage of the airmen.

There is plaque in the main street where the plane came down but last year but the villagers of St Sever decided to build a memorial as a more lasting tribute.

St Sever's village historian, Andre Laroze, said: "The work on getting permission for the 1.5 metre memorial has been undertaken by local people in their own time and expense and underlines the deep debt of gratitude that still exists among those liberated by the Allies, even though French families suffered casualties in the process."

The gesture has touched the heart of Dame Vera Lynn, 101, who praised both the townspeople's generosity and kindness in a message read out at Saturday's unveiling ceremony.

Dame Vera said: "I was delighted to hear about the event you are organising in Normandy - it is a lovely idea to memorialise those brave airmen…

"So many brave men fought for our freedom during the Second World War and we owe them a great debt of gratitude.

“It is so important that we never take their sacrifice for granted and events like this ensure we do not."

Dame Vera added: "I thank all of the people of St Sever and the families of those airmen for their efforts, sacrifices and commitment to maintaining the memory of the past. I will be thinking of you all."