Memorial to WW2 bomber crew unveiled

A memorial has been unveiled to commemorate the crew of a Lancaster bomber who perished when their plane crashed during World War Two.

The bomber, piloted by Flt Sgt Geoffrey Appleyard, crashed on 26 July 1942 shortly after taking off from RAF Coningsby with the loss of all seven crew members.

The memorial has been erected near Benington Sea End, north of Boston, close to where the aircraft came down.

Family members, including Appleyard's niece, were among those attending a dedication service at the site, which was preceded by a procession led by a bagpiper.

It comes after Flt Sgt Andrew Copley, a member of the RAF Coningsby Aviation Heritage Centre, began researching the incident, with the aim of finding the exact crash location and tracing relatives of the crew.

"The memorial may seem like the end of a long personal 10-year research journey for me, but the work continues," he said.

"The preservation of the crew's documents and the collation of the crew's story is now my next task," he added.

Flt Sgt Appleyard's niece, Mrs Brewer, described the day as "memorable".

Mr Lake, nephew of Sgt James Douglas Davie, added: "This memorial is now placed for future generations to recognise the ultimate price that those seven men and 57,000 others paid all those years ago to give us freedom."

The other crew members were Sgt Robert Lovie Beaddie, Flt Sgt Montague Darvill, Sgt James William Grimwade, Pilot Officer Ray Branton Smith and Sgt Leonard Walter Young.

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