S/Ldr George Fidler, Hurricane pilot, MIA since May 1940

[DavidIsby]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w41ydpgj3o

[Teresa Maria]

Rest in peace.

[DavidIsby]

https://www.cwgc.org/our-work/news/r...fter-86-years/

[DavidIsby]

from Facebook: MOD War Detectives
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Today at 13:30 hours we buried Squadron Leader George Morley Fidler Royal Air Force 86 years after he was killed in Northern France.
Squadron Leader Fidler, known to his family and friends as 'Morley', was born on 30 September 1912 in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire. As a young man he joined the family business for a few years, but his real passion was for flying, and in 1934 he joined the Royal Air Force.
He spent time in Egypt, Cyprus and India, being described as an 'exceptional' pilot by his superiors. Morley would often visit Great Ayton on leave, sometimes arriving by aircraft, looping-the-loop and landing in a field nearby much to the joy of the local children.
When war was declared in September 1939, Morley went to France as part of the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force, sent to assist France to resist the German threat. In February 1940, he joined 607 Squadron. As the Germans pushed through Europe, the squadron found themselves in the middle of intense aerial combat. On 19 May 1940, Hurricanes from 607 Squadron were patrolling the skies above Cambrai when they encountered a Dornier bomber with an escort of Messerschmitts. In the ensuing air battle, Morley's Hurricane was shot down.
On the same day, another Hurricane pilot came down in the town of Bachy. This pilot was mistakenly identified as Squadron Leader Fidler. The grave was subsequently named for him and a personal inscription was supplied by Morley's mother.
However, in 2005 metal detectorists discovered pieces of plane wreckage from a site in Oisy-le-Verger, about 35km from Bachy. One piece had a serial number 'P3535' which suggested it came from the Hurricane flown by Morley. This prompted the Ministry of Defence to look at the grave in Bachy and determine it could not possibly belong to Morley. The headstone was changed to 'unknown airman' to reflect this.
But Morley's story did not end there. There is currently an extensive construction project ongoing in Northern France due to a major extension of the Seine-Nord Canal. In 2022, whilst undertaking some preliminary archaeological works in an area due for expansion, a crash site was discovered of a Second World War era airplane, believed to be a Hurricane. The pilot was also discovered at the same time. After extensive research and DNA testing, this pilot was positively identified as Squadron Leader George Morley Fidler and he was finally laid to rest today at Commonwealth War Graves Commission London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, France.
The bearer party comprised of serving personnel from RAF Halton, and also present were representatives from 607 Squadron. The service was led by Padre Helene Grant RAF.