The Crew of Halifax Bomber MZ 538

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Reference WMO/254891

Address:

St. Mary's Church

Church Wind

Alne

YO61 1RX

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Non freestanding
Location: Internal
Setting: Inside a building - public/private
Description: Framed
Materials:
  • Glass Glass
  • Paper Paper
  • Timber Timber (any)
Lettering: Painted
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: The memorial is a small printed piece of paper about A4 size framed in a gold coloured frame. It is hanging to the left of the altar. as well as the printed inscription there are two badges of 425 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force (one in English and one in French).
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Lest We Forget. On 18th December 1944 a Halifax bomber MZ538-425 Squadron RCAF crashed after take off from Tholthorpe with a full load of bombs hitting trees close to the village of Alne. The explosion caused the loss of all eight crew members. It was by the skill of the pilot, F/O Joseph R.J.M. Desmaris, D.F.C that massive casualties were saved. The altar window was damaged and was restored with new stained glass in 1958. The Canadian crew are buried side by side in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's plot at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate. (Badges) The full crew consisted of: Pilot J/87112 F/O Joseph R. J. M. Desmarais DFC RCAF Sherbrooke, Quebec, aged 24; Navigator J/29412 F/O Joseph W. L. Bernier DFC RCAF Montreal, Quebec, aged 29; Bomber J/88921 P/O Joseph R. J. C. Labrecque RCAF Montreal, Quebec, aged 28; Gunner J/90899 P/O Raymond C. Gauthier RCAF Tecumseh, Ontario, aged 20; W/Op J/88326 P/O Joseph E. L. Dubois RCAF Dorion, Vaudreuil, Quebec, aged 24; Gunner R/62838 Flt/Sgt Joseph M. Paradis RCAF Lac au Saumon, Quebec, aged 29; Gunner R/135028 Flt/Sgt Joseph R. Lariviere RCAF of Montreal, Quebec, aged 24; Engineer 186889 P/O Joseph Blackburn RAF; They gave their lives for us;

Joseph R. J. M. Desmarais; Joseph W. L. Bernier; Joseph R. J. C. Labrecque; Raymond C. Gauthier; Joseph E. L. Dubois; Joseph M. Paradis; Joseph R. Lariviere; P/O Joseph Blackburn

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