Profile image
Military service
Service number:
J/92132
Age:
30
Rank:
Pilot Officer
Force:
Air Force
Unit/Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Division:
630 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
Birth:
February 7, 1914
Death:
August 27, 1944
Near Skarrild, Denmark
Burial/memorial information
Grave reference:
Coll. grave 539.
Digital gallery of Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland
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Document
Report from RAF Missing Research and Enquiry Service to the Air Ministry on 28 SEpt. 1945, referencing a report of a Lancaster (ME650) crashing in the Skarrild district of Denmark on the night of 26/27 August 1944. Locals describe a large bomber moving west to east at low altitude on fire, exploding in the air. All aboard were killed. The Germans left the bodies in the field for two days until a local personage complained to the authorities and requested permission to bury them. He was give three hours. All the bodies were collected and placed into two large coffins and interred in the local church yard. Source: Library and Archives Canada, RG24 section via Capt. R. W. Whitehouse CA(M) ret'd -
Document
Report from RAF Missing Research and Enquiry Service to the Air Ministry on 28 SEpt. 1945 pg 2 Page 2 gives information about the crashed aircr4aft for the purposes of identifcation from RAF records. Number on tail was" ME650". Wingtip number found was "Type 683, DWEV.2P4581 Capacity M.V.A. 495" With this information the RAF records section could identify the aircraft and therefore the crew. All were located and identified by this means. Source: Library and Archives Canada, RG24 section via Capt. R. W. Whitehouse CA(M) ret'd -
Newspaper Clipping
Source: Globe and Mail September 30, 1944 -
Newspaper Clipping
Source: Globe and Mail September 30, 1944 -
Group photo
Seated L to R F/Sgt Burton McLaughlin RCAF, F/O Evelyn George William Bowers, Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland RCAF<P> Standing: Sergeant Guy Raymond Stott, Warrant Officer William John Carrier RAAF, Sergeant Leslie Thompson, Sergeant Alan Ambrose Michael Langridge<P> Submitted for the project: Operation Picture Me -
Photo of Wilfred Fingland
Submitted for the project: Operation Picture Me -
Cemetery
Photo and excerpt of story from Airwar Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com and used with permission of Soren Flensted.<P> Lancaster I ME650 of 630 (RAF) Sqn. took off from East Kirkby at 19:58 on a raid to Königsberg. On the return flight ME650 was attacked by a night fighter and at 04:15 hours it crashed in a field at Sønder Grene near Skarrild.<P> The bodies of the crew were taken by horse drawn carriage to a grave prepared in the Skarrild churchyard cemetery and placed in two coffins for burial.<P> Vicar Henrik Ingerslev officiated at the graveside ceremony. The Germans allowed the 40-50 attending Danes to sing one hymn. Before the end of the day the grave was covered with flowers.<P> The crew were:<BR> P/O (BA) B. McLauchlin of St. Catharines and P/O (N) W. J. Fingland of Toronto; also WO W. J. Carrier RAAF; F/L E. G. W. Bowers RAF; and RAF Sgts. A. A. M. Langridge, G. R. Stott, and L. Thompson. -
Cemetery
Each year on the evening of 5/5 on the day of the liberation of Denmark a ceremony is held at Skarrild Cemetery in honour of the flyers.<P> Photo of memorial after the 2005 ceremony courtesy of www.flensted.eu.com -
Memorial
Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Id Card
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Photo of WILFRED JAMES FINGLAND
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Photo of WILFRED JAMES FINGLAND
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Letter
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Letter
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Letter
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star September 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star October 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star October 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star September 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star October 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Telegram September 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Wilfred James Fingland
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 304 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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SKARRILD CHURCHYARD Denmark
Skarrild is a small village of Jutland about 25 kilometres north-north-east of Esbjerb. It lies to the west of the road (No 18) between Brande and Herning.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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