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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robert Aubray Thorne

In memory of:

Flying Officer Robert Aubray Thorne

February 15, 1945
Sea south of Sweden

Military Service

Service Number:

J/27139

Age:

22

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

429 Sqdn.

Additional Information

Son of Selby Edward and Helen May of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.

Commemorated on Page 570 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

MALMO EASTERN MUNICIPAL CEMETERY
Sweden

Grave Reference:

Sec. IV. D. 2B.

Location:

The City of Malmo is on the south-west coast opposite to Copenhagen. The MALMO EASTERN MUNICIPAL CEMETERY is situated 3 kilometres south-east of the city centre, and near the Crematorium is the small War Graves Plot.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Cemetery– Photo of Malmo cemetery, Sweden (CWGC) Story of the crash used with permission of Soren Flensted, Air War Over Denmark, www.flensted.eu.com Halifax III MZ865 of 429 Squadron took off at 18:05 from Leeming on a gardening (mining) oepration in the Kadett Channel. At 21:01 hours the aircraft was attacked by a German night fighter piloted by Hauptmann Eduard Schröder of 1./ NJG 3 and crashed into the Baltic Sea about 8 kilometres off the Falsterbo lighthouse, Sweden, killing all onboard. The bodies of Pilot F/Lt Ross C. Charlton and Flt. Engr. P/O Wolodemir Fedorchuk were recovered from the sea west of Skanör by the Swedish navy and laid to rest in Pålsjö cemetery at Hälsingborg. Also Mid Upper Gunner Sgt Gordon L.J. Barnes rest in Hälsingborg. Navigator F/O Robert A. Thorne was found on the Skanör beach and was laid to rest in Malmö cemetery. The body of W/Op F/O Keith W. Rainford was found washed ashore at Karlslunde beach on the island of Sjælland on 28/5 and was laid to rest in Karlslunde cemetery on 31/5 1945. On 16/7 the dead body of Tail Gunner F/Sgt Stanley E. Bostwick was found washed ashore near Vindeby on the island of Langeland and was laid to rest in Magleby cemetery on 20/7 1945. A Canadian Field Priest officiated at the graveside ceremony. Bomb Aimer P/O Robert J. McCallum has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. (It should be noted that in Swedish records it is claimed that the Halifax was hit by Swedish flak.)

    Details

    Cemetery
    Cemetery – Photo of Malmo cemetery, Sweden (CWGC) Story of the crash used with permission of Soren Flensted, Air War Over Denmark, www.flensted.eu.com Halifax III MZ865 of 429 Squadron took off at 18:05 from Leeming on a gardening (mining) oepration in the Kadett Channel. At 21:01 hours the aircraft was attacked by a German night fighter piloted by Hauptmann Eduard Schröder of 1./ NJG 3 and crashed into the Baltic Sea about 8 kilometres off the Falsterbo lighthouse, Sweden, killing all onboard. The bodies of Pilot F/Lt Ross C. Charlton and Flt. Engr. P/O Wolodemir Fedorchuk were recovered from the sea west of Skanör by the Swedish navy and laid to rest in Pålsjö cemetery at Hälsingborg. Also Mid Upper Gunner Sgt Gordon L.J. Barnes rest in Hälsingborg. Navigator F/O Robert A. Thorne was found on the Skanör beach and was laid to rest in Malmö cemetery. The body of W/Op F/O Keith W. Rainford was found washed ashore at Karlslunde beach on the island of Sjælland on 28/5 and was laid to rest in Karlslunde cemetery on 31/5 1945. On 16/7 the dead body of Tail Gunner F/Sgt Stanley E. Bostwick was found washed ashore near Vindeby on the island of Langeland and was laid to rest in Magleby cemetery on 20/7 1945. A Canadian Field Priest officiated at the graveside ceremony. Bomb Aimer P/O Robert J. McCallum has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. (It should be noted that in Swedish records it is claimed that the Halifax was hit by Swedish flak.)
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Edmonton Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – From the Edmonton Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Robert Aubray Thorne is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying Officer Robert Aubray Thorne is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Robert Aubray Thorne is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying Officer Robert Aubray Thorne 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

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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