Date: 1943 Jun 25/26			A/C Type: Stirling III		SN: BK-768		Code: AA-L		A/C Nickname:
File: 50		Airforce: RAF		Sqn/Unit:  75 Sqn			Mission/Raid: Gelsenkirchen
1	Pilot	F/O William R. Perrot     RNZAF, buried Amsterdam					9
2	CP/Obs	F/Sgt. Gordon D. Thompson RNZAF   b. Harderwijk					10		Thomson washed ashore 4 July Harderw.
3	Fl Eng/AG	Sgt. William Webster Hilditch            MIA					11
4	WO/AG	Sgt. Charles C. Mould                          MIA					12
5	Air Bomber	F/Sgt. Clifford J. Whitelaw  RNZAF    MIA					13
6	Gunner	Sgt. Gordon W. Colyer              buried Amsterdam					14
7	Rear gunner	Sgt. Harry Squire                        buried Amsterdam					15
8							16
German reports say this aircraft was shot down west of Urk. It came down hard in Lake IJsselmeer near Urk (NNW). Crew members washed ashore onto the nearby Northeast Polder dike which was patrolled by the local Urker airwarden Mr. Harmen Kramer.

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The bodies that were recovered at Urk received a coffin there and were sailed over to Amsterdam for burial.  

Pilot Perrot, Sgt. Colyer and Sgt. Squire were buried under their name in Amsterdam on 7 July 1943, but with them came also a number of nameless airmen that were buried the same day, some also came from Urk with the same boat. They coud not be identified after the war and are buried today next to F/O Perrot and above Sgt. Colyer and Squire (graves on this row are 4 coffins deep). When relatives of Sgt. Hilditch, Mould and Whitelaw visit Amsterdam, they should lay their flowers at the graves of the unknown airmen with date 7 July 1943 on the headstone.



Sources: 

- 2012 research of the Amsterdam cemetery files and reconstruction of the war burials 1940-1945.
- website PATS
- website CWGC




© ZZairwar (Zuyder Zee Air War)