RAF loss, 1st of May 1944, Belgium
 

Hello,

Has anyone got details concerning the loss of the following two airman buried at Zaventem (Communal Cemetery), Belgium:

F/O (Pilot) ARCHER, Raymond Leonard (124689) RAF
F/L (Navigator) McEwan, Arthur Murray (78083) RAFVR

Both were killed the 1st of May 1944.

I thank you,
Dirk

Re: RAF loss, 1st of May 1944, Belgium
 

Hi,

CWG site has them both with 305 Polish Squadron (Mosquito's).Both were married so left widows perhaps children ?
The Polish Squadrons webpage losses for this date has the name Evan instead of McEwan. No serial number or a/c letter is given for the Mosquito either .

Alex

Re: RAF loss, 1st of May 1944, Belgium
 

Hi !

MM409 is perhaps the plane you're looking for, as this plane went missing on a night intruder mission to Bonn.

Best regards

Luc

Re: RAF loss, 1st of May 1944, Belgium
 

Hi Alex and Luc,

Thank you both for your answer.

I checked http://www.dehavilland.ukf.net/_DH98%20prodn%20list.txt and found a second candidate, namely Mosquito NS847. However according to the above-mentioned website NS847 was with 515 Squadron. 'NS847 FBVI 515 Sqdn Missing from patrol to Brussels 1.5.44'

Could it have been Mosquito NS847??? Zaventem is situated only a few miles northeast of Brussels.

The same website states the following with regard to MM409:
‘MM409 FBVI 305 Sqdn Missing from night intruder to Bonn 2.5.44’

Dirk

Re: RAF loss, 1st of May 1944, Belgium
 

Hi Dirk,

According to my information, Mosquito VI NS847 (515 Sqn) crashed 2 km N.E. of Bazel during a Serrate patrol. The crew members were killed.

Rgds.

Re: RAF loss, 1st of May 1944, Belgium
 

Hi Montana and Dirk,

The crew of NS847 (F/Sgt.Stein and Sgt.Lindsay) are buried at Schoonselhof (Antwerp).

Best regards

Luc

Re: RAF loss, 1st of May 1944, Belgium
 

Hi

It seems that his airplane was the MM409 305Sqn crashed 1KM N of Zaventem at 23:56
A German document KE8474 made reference to this event but unfortunately I don’t retrieve it .
F/O Archer Raymond Leonard (KIA)124689 & F/Lt McEwan Arthur Murray(KIA)78083
Regards
Phil

Re: RAF loss, 1st of May 1944, Belgium
 

Hi Flupke,

Many thanks for the information!

Regards,
Dirk