[Kenny Horne]

Hello Theo,

The only details that I have from the Canadian government are from the RCAF Casualty Officer in a letter dated 2nd May 1946.

"Dear Mr. Horne,

Although no definite information has as yet been received concerning the fate of your son, Warrant Officer Class 2 James Chandler Horne, information has been secured from captured german documents which confirms that already received concerning his aircraft and crew of which it is felt you would wish to be advised.

These documents state that the aircraft of which your son was a member of the crew was shot down by an enemy night fighter and crashed at 1:40 am on April 27th, 1944, near Lierbach which is located three kilometres North East of Oppenau, Germany. The documents further state that seven members of the crew lost their lives at that time, Sergeant Watson and Flight Sergeant Wickham of the Royal Air Force together with five persons listed as unknown, all of whom were buried on the following day in the Oppenau Cemetery.

The Missing Research and Enquiry Service and the Graves Registration Unit in that area are doing everything possible to identify the persons buried as unknown and to secure definite information concerning the fate of your son and the remainder of his crew and just as soon as word is received you will be at once advised. I am sure you will realize however that in the view of the vast number of enquiries confronting these enquiry Services, some considerable time may elapse before more word is received.

May I extend to you and the members of your family my most sincere sympathy in this period of continued anxiety..."

This seems to be a match to the information you provided, with a 10 minute reported difference, though I must imagine that 10 minutes would be reasonable. I doubt that everyone involved would have synchronized their watches that evening.

Understandably, very little was know of my Uncle's fate, and in fact it wasn't until 8th of January 1945 that my family received a "presumed dead" notification. As there were eight members of his crew that night (2nd Dickie F S Young RNZAF) and there were only seven bodies recovered, the original letters home provided a faint hope that someone survived. In fact someone did, F S Young, of whom I know very little. An internet search provided me with the following: POW Camp 357, POW #3715. In fact I am even confused as to whether his initials were F.S. or whether that refers to his rank, Flight Sergeant.

Thank you for your continued assistance,

Kenny Horne,
Edmonton, Canada