WWII Aircrew Buried

World War Two Aircrew Buried With Military Honours

The crew of a Royal Air Force Liberator aircraft who were tragically killed just 11 days before the end of World War Two when their aircraft crashed deep inside the Malaysian jungle, have been laid to rest with military honours at the Cheras Road Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Liberator KL654 with its crew of eight from 356 Squadron, left the Cocos Islands on 23^rd August 1945 to drop supplies into central Malaysia. No message, or signal, was received from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return from its mission. Reports at the time spoke of an unidentified aircraft being heard over the target area. As the aircraft?s route took it over the sea and Sumatran jungle and poor weather conditions were reported, with low cloud over the hills and localised thunderstorms, the aircraft was believed to have crashed in the sea or jungle.

44 years later in 1991 the wreckage was discovered by the indigenous Orang Asli in the jungle of Kuala Pilah. Following subsequent numerous expeditions to the crash site by military and non-military teams, a privately funded expedition in 2009 unearthed the remains of the fallen servicemen which have now finally been put to rest.

?This is an important occasion for the families of the crew of KL654 and also for all of us as we reflect and honour the ultimate sacrifice made by these men for their country,? said Reverend (Wing Commander) Jonathan Beach the RAF Chaplain who conducted the graveside service: ?I am pleased that so many family members of the fallen were able to make the trip to Malaysia to witness their burial and say their final goodbyes.?

As the families who had made the 13,000 mile round trip looked on, members of The Queen?s Colour Squadron bore the single coffin carrying the remains of the crew to their final resting place on a hillside overlooking the city of Kuala Lumpur.

The crew were:-

Pilot Flight Lieutenant John Selwyn Watts

Co pilot Flying Officer Edward Donald Mason

Navigator Flying Officer William Kenneth Dovey

Air Bomber Flying Officer John Trevor Bromfield

Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner Flight Sergeant Arthur Turner

Flight Engineer Flight Sergeant Jack Blakey

Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner Flight Sergeant Raymond Arthur Towell

Air Gunner Flight Sergeant William Ross

For many of the family members the day was about closure and bringing to an end the uncertainty of knowing how their loved ones died: ?My mother never really wanted to talk to me about my father, so I grew up not knowing much about him?? said Lynn Thornhill, daughter of Co-Pilot Edward Mason: ?Finding out how he died and finally being able to lay him to rest has provided some form of closure for me and my family.?

Captain Ken Taylor Royal Navy, the Defence Adviser at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur said:?This is indeed a very moving and emotional occasion, not just for the families of the servicemen who lost their lives for their country, but I suspect for British people everywhere, including those living here in Malaysia. These fallen servicemen will now receive the military honours they deserve and their families will have the closure they seek. We are thankful to those who have made this possible, both from the UK and Malaysia.?

Editor: Mr Mike Drewett

Photographs:

A Consolidated Liberator B.VI of 356 Squadron landing on three engines at Brown's West Island, Cocos Islands, after completing a sortie on 6 August 1945. The crew of one of 356 Squadron's aircraft; Liberator KL 654, were killed when their aircraft crashed in the Malayan jungle while conducting a supplies dropping mission on 23rd August 1945.

Members of The Queen's Colour Squadron carry the coffin bearing the remains of the crew of Liberator KL654 to their final resting place at the Cheras Road Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Members of The Queen's Colour Squadron lay the remains of the crew of Liberator KL654 in their final resting place at the Cheras Road Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2012

Source: http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/wwii-aircrew-buried-19102012

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