Info request - F.Lt W.Lightbourn - 610 Sqn RM677 - Spitfire MK.XIV crash

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Recce-Boxmeer, Dec 2, 2016.

  1. Recce-Boxmeer

    Recce-Boxmeer Member

    Hello All,

    For a local project we are investigating all air crashes in the municipality of Boxmeer. Including the air crash of F.Lt Lightbourn on the 14th February 1945.

    We wish to revail as much information as possible.

    Who can help us out with record books, Sqn information of other information of any kind?

    Thanks in advance! Any help is very welcome.

    Regards,

    Guido
     
  2. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Casualty Details


    Flight Lieutenant Warren Maurice Lightbourn 119573 was KIA 14/02/1945 and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery - he was the son of Maurice S. and Ida L. Lightbourn, of Nassau, Bahamas


    Lightbourn | Out Island Boy
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 2, 2016
    CL1 likes this.
  3. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Extracts from the 610SQN ORB (Summary of Events & Record of Events) for the month of February 1945 detailing the incident are attached.

    The aircraft number was not specified - just the aircraft type.
     

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    Last edited: Dec 2, 2016
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  4. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    RM677 To 610 Sqn CAC ops 18/7/44 ros 610 Sqn. Hit by flak Munster and crashed nr Boxmeer 14/2/45 wreck found deeply buried F/Lt Lightbourn stationed at Eindhoven (B.78) shot down – killed 14/0/2.45.
    Aircraft of 610 Squadron 1936-1957 - 610 Squadron
     
    Peter Clare likes this.
  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    LIGHTBOURN – Warren Maurice
    Aircrew Flt Lt Warren Maurice, LIGHTBOURN
    Service No: 119573 Service: RAFVR
    Trade/Branch: Pilot Squadron(s): 610 Sqn
    Station/Unit/Ship: B.78 Eindhoven
    Group: 127 Wing Command: 2TAF
    Nationality: Bahamas Disposal: KIA Age 25 yrs Date Died: 14 Feb 1945
    Aircraft 1: Spitfire XIV DW-?
    was at Bolt Head in July 1943. He was killed on 14th February 1945 aged 25. Destroyed V2 Flying Bomb. Flew as No 2 to Freddie Crewe. Lightbourn and Freddie Crewe were Squadron representatives at wedding of Sousse Venesoen in Anglesey. Flew from Bolt Head in Tiger Moth on 1st August returning to Bolt Head on 2nd. Winds so strong that trains were overtaking the Tiger on return journey. On 14 Feb 1945, a 610 Sqn pilot downed a Me 262.

    Buried At: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
    Grave/Memorial : 1.A.15
    Next of Kin: Son of Maurice S. and Ida L. Lightbourn, of Nassau, Bahamas.

    Caribbean aircrew in the RAF during WW2 » Blog Archive » LIGHTBOURN – Warren Maurice
     
    Peter Clare likes this.
  6. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Deleted - forgot to post info and others posted before me!
     
  7. Recce-Boxmeer

    Recce-Boxmeer Member

    Thanks guys! Great information!

    The coordinate in the event records show 7838. My question is how accurate are these records? Because this is around 4 kilometers away from what we expected. Is there perhaps a more detailed report of the crash somewhere of more details event record to look at?
     
  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  9. Steve H.

    Steve H. New Member

    Hi Guido,
    I thought I should reply before I receive your official enquiry from Franz-Josef the archivar from Weeze. If the Crash Position E7838 is correct, then this puts Lightbourns crashsite between Sambeek and Vortum-Mullem, just West of the Grotestraat. You Need a copy of the Defence Map of St Antonius where E7838 is shown.
    If you have any other Information that is not on this Forum I will probably receive it tomorrow.
    The only question/Grey area is, when Lightbourn crashed in Holland why is he buried in Reichswald cemetery in Germany.
    I have a unidentified crashsite just inside Germany between Gaesdonk and Hülm near Boyenhof. According to the locals about 10-15 years ago 20mm cannon were recovered, it could also be the crashsite of a Typhoon from 175 sqn P/O R.P. Townsend also 14th Feb 45.

    Best Regards

    Steve
     
  10. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Just to confuse matters the CWGC records shown that his place of first burial was at Bruckerhose, Germany (Map ref 924342) and that his body was recovered from here and transferred to the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on 24th October 1946. I am afraid that I cannot locate a similar sounding place name in the area of the crash site
     
  11. Steve H.

    Steve H. New Member

    At the Moment I cannot Look at the Defence Maps but the Map reference puts his Original burial South of Weeze nearer to Kevelaer will Check this evening.

    Regards

    Steve
     
  12. Recce-Boxmeer

    Recce-Boxmeer Member

    Hello Steve,

    Sorry.. I dind't saw your messages earlier. We have found the similar information and in our project we have placed the crash outside our zone.

    We will present the book, incl. this crash, on 22nd of May 2017.
     
  13. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Weeze is close to Reichwald Military Cemetery which was one of two sites chosen by the CWGC for concentration cemeteries after the war in this area of northern Germany.
     
  14. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    From a family tree:

    [​IMG]

    TD
     

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