In 2009 Helen and John bought an old metal weathervane, fashioned in the shape of a Lancaster bomber, and placed it on the roof of their house where it remained for the following nine years.
Only when it was removed as part of them packing to relocate in 2021 was a small inscription noticed on its fuselage, JB453-F. What followed filled their lives for the next two years.
JB453 was identified as an Avro Lancaster bomber, built in 1943, and based at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire with 83 Pathfinder Squadron.
Research revealed that the aircraft was downed by enemy fire in early January 1944 over Germany during the Battle for Berlin bombing campaign. All seven crew members, from the UK, Ireland, South Africa and Canada, were lost.
Helen and John decided that they should erect a plaque at their new home, near to the weathervane, in memory of the fallen crew. However, Helen became increasingly resolute that the crews’ descendants should be made aware of the find, carrying out huge amounts of research across the globe, eventually locating descendants of each of the crew.
Helen’s story was reported by several national newspapers, drawing it to the attention of the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. It contacted Helen, advocating that the weathervane should be dedicated as a formal war memorial, culminating in a unique event in Herefordshire attended by senior military officers, the Lord Lieutenant of the county representing HM Queen Elizabeth and the Royal British Legion but, most importantly, by many members of the crews’ family descendants.
In putting this story together, the author has had access to huge volumes of information from Helen, countless official records from military archives many original letters sent between crew members and their families during that turbulent time.
The Bomber and the Weathervane by Tony Aston is published on 27 July, 2024.
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