Records of unknown airmen washed ashore

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Just to note that the CWGC website has 17th July 41 for Rayment.Same for Sadler.
Air Britain P1000 -R9999 has 17/7/41 also for P4832.
Alex

[Larry]

Thanks Alex.

So I wonder if there are graves in the towns along the coast of Northern France which are marked as unknown, which are listed anywhere with burial dates. Perhaps I will have to visit them all!

[Hans Nauta]

Hello Larry,

I've no experience with graves at the Belgium and Frenche coastal towns, but with regard to my own area of research, province North-Holland, the Netherlands, I can add that about 10% of the graves at the coastal townd and villages are marked as unknown.

As far as I know there's no specific list of this group and the best way IMHO is to approach the Red Cross in both countries. They may hold the original burial records, including postwar remarks whether a washed ashore crew member was identified-or not. But that would mean that you've to consult eacht burial register of each coastal town or village.

Concerning further research it will be very difficult to determine the possible identity of an unknown airmen as the crash place, tides, currents, cause of death and state of the body in relation with eachother is a complex matter.

For instance, there would be a difference in the drifting of a body in the upper or lower layers of the sea (with different currents!) when the person has either drowned or died from cold exposure in the water...

Good luck!

Hans Nauta

[Fairlop]

Hi Larry,

Some years ago I have contacted a several Red Cross offices in France regarding my search for possible records of airmen which were killed over the land or who were washed ashore. Unfortunately no valuable info (if any) were sent to me.
From another good source I was informed these reports (only for France area ?) could be in possesion of Service Historique de l'armée de l'air in Vincennes.

Regards,
Michal