Lancaster ND475 And The Mod

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 469

Shown tonight on 'East Midlands Today' was the story of Lancaster ND475 which crashed near Peterborough on farmland.
The relatives of the pilot's have recently found out that their missing loved ones actually are still with the wreck as opposed to being 'missing' or 'grave unknown'.
The landowners have unearthed parts of the'Lanc' during the course of their farming activities but would like the crew to remain. In this case the Mod has advised that the recovery of the crew is unlikely.
In this case I think that the Mod should allow a dignified
recovery operation to be undertaken.

Original post

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 15

RE: Lancaster ND475 And The Mod

Given recent stories about the disturbance of war graves by souvenir hunters, I would have thought that the fact that the position of this crash sight is generally known would be all of the impetus needed by the MOD or RAF to go out and recover the remains of the aircrew before they are defiled and disturbed by some unthinking and disrespectful bounty hunters. They will be the first to be up in arms if this subsequently takes place!

Iain :x(

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 74

RE: Lancaster ND475 And The Mod

I agree entirely with both of you.
I saw the news item myself.
And it just made me wonder again, how the decision makers at the MOD would feel if THEY , or their close relatives, were destined to spend eternity in some farmer's field being constantly ploughed over, and at the risk of having their "grave" robbed ,and faceless wonders kept telling the whole country that they will not ever recover them and give them a decent burial.
I would seriously like to know the REAL reason behind this policy decision, which has obviously been decided on very many years ago, probably near the end of the war .
Is it money or is it some "deeper" reason ?

Considering all the things our tax money gets spent on, like huge amounts to certain newcomers who feel nothing for this country, would not know what a Spitfire was if it dropped on them, but think we owe them a living and a nice place to live, if the general public was to be made aware of what government policy was on the recovery of our dead Heroes, perhaps they would not be too happy about it at all. Especially when our boys are now going out to risk their lives for world peace yet again, and given very little thanks by certain people in return.

Maybe a "big stink" should have been made of it during the Poppy Appeal season, with the politicians being made to answer searching questions from Jeremy Paxman.

How do current/former military people feel about this treatment of their comrades?

Mick

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 129

RE: Lancaster ND475 And The Mod

As an ex-member of the RAF (I left in 96) I am absolutely horrified. I felt disgusted when I read about the B17 in the Med with 3 crew on being ripped apart by so called 'souvenir hunters'. I was also outraged when I read about the remains of a crew in Holland a couple of months ago where the Dutch Authorities wanted to leave them buried under a leisure centre or something.

What you have to remember is that even after 60 years, these where real people, doing something to help this country at a time of need. They had families and loved ones, and one assumes many of those families are still about to remember them. Let's do the decent thing and give them a decent burial and comfort to the relatives.

I know that if I had come down in a field somewhere with my colleagues, I'd want a decent burial. Not to have my bones ripped out so that some degenerate could get to my dog tags or what was left in my wallet, or parts of the seat I was strapped to.

MOD do the right thing and give these boys a decent resting place. Look at the example set by the USAF in reclaiming the bodies of the crew of the Lady Be Good.

I for one, shall never forget. And, I'll make sure my young sons won't either.

Scotty

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 469

RE: Lancaster ND475 And The Mod

Scotty - I can only see the Mod having this policy due to the grounds of cost. It's an undeniable fact that future building projects in the U.K will without a doubt find other aircraft and crews which are still where they came to their end.
The present system of granting permits for recoveries is flawed in allowing only recoveries where the crew have been recovered. I feel that permits should be allowed in the case of aircraft where the crew are still in the wreck with the stipulation that the R.A.F is represented along with attendance from the Coroner's office.
As was shown by the Dutch documentary a couple of months ago this can be carried out in a precise and compassionate way.
It's time the Mod sorted this out instead of hoping the problem goes away.

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 129

RE: Lancaster ND475 And The Mod

David

I see your point, but having worked under the banner of the MOD for 9 years, you get to see the red tape handed down by them every 5 minutes. It is nausiating, mostly pointless and drempt up by civil servants with little or no common sense. One of these people is making decisions about remains in wrecks.

Common sense might prevail, oneday - we can live in hope. The MOD/RAF/Navy/Army should afford any remains a decent burial wherever possible. Sorry, but it is only right. The problem won't go away.

Having watched the Documentary 'One of our aircraft is nolonger missing' on video, I can see the Dutch having a better understanding of such things than our draconian MOD.

Pardon my spelling/grammar.

Scotty

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 469

RE: Lancaster ND475 And The Mod

Scotty - I too was in the R.A.F - and yes they do believe in red tape for the sake of red tape!!!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 129

RE: Lancaster ND475 And The Mod

;-)

nicely put.

I'd still like to see these lads recovered.

I've said before on a previous post (borrowed from WW1):

Lions led by donkeys

I still standby that.

Keep up the good forum postings.

Scotty