Burial of Canadian airmen in Norway - 1941

This photo appeared online recently with no background beyond the caption "German soldiers and field priest, along with a local priest, bury Canadian airmen who died in a plane crash in Nazi-occupied Norway, 1941"

My original presumption was that the photo showed the burial of Wing Commander Richard Gustav Briese (RCAF Service Number C/147) of 413 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force who was KIA 22 October 1941 and buried at Trondheim (Stavne) Cemetery - but his was the only burial in Trondheim that day

He was the son of Gustav and Elsie Briese & the husband of Mary Marjorie Briese of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. B. Eng (University of Alberta)


But it is more likely to be the loss on 8 September 1941 of 90 Squadron (RAF) Flying Fortress AN525 which was attacked at 25000 ft by two Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft - the B17 burst into flames and crashed in the Norwegian mountains, killing all on board - the crew are buried in a Collective grave at Bygland Churchyard, Norway

Sergeant Henry Merrill R/54891 Royal Canadian Air Force

Flying Officer David Albert Alton Romans DFC 42265 - Pilot in the Royal Air Force - Son of David James and Rachel Louisa Ley Romans of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Pilot Officer Frank Gordon Hart 102970 Royal Air Force - Son of Frank and Mildred Eleanor Hart of Sheffield

Sergeant Robert Henry Beattie 527756 Royal Air Force - Son of Robert William and Pauline Beattie of New Brighton, Wallasey, Cheshire

Sergeant Walter George Honey 1150620 Royal Air Force - Son of Arthur George and Lizzie Honey & the husband of Louisa Maud Honey of Hoxton, London

Sergeant Peter Barnard Corbett 910665 Royal Air Force

Sergeant John Brown 759281 Royal Air Force