Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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208008
Sgt. Eric White
RAF Bomber Command 426 Squadron
from:Valence, Sutton, Kent
(d.13th May 1944)
Eric White 653213 was my father's great uncle and Dad asked me to try and find out as much as I could about him as he was never told. I was able to find out that he was the Flight Engineer of Sqdn 426 Bomber Command. He flew in a Halifax mark 111 serial NA510.
Others on board were
Sqdn leader I M McRobie
Flying officer G W Bedford
WO 2nd class M A Brazey
WO 2nd class C A McLeod
Flight sgt A H Hammond
Flight sgt Bremrose
They took of from RCAF air base Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire heading towards their target Cambrai, France. The Aircraft caught on fire and crashed near Villers-Les-Cagnicourt in Pas-De Calais on 13th June 1944. I believe once they knew they were in trouble they decided to evacuate the plane but Eric White and I M McRobie stayed on board to keep the plane level. It eventually crashed killing both on impact the locals found the body of Eric but McRobie was never found. A H Hammond, C A McLeod and Bremrose all managed to evade with the help of the locals but Bedford and Brazey were taken prisoner.
The locals buried Eric White in Cagnicourt and every year hold a ceremony over his grave.