Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Flight Sergeant Raymond James Dillon is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flight Sergeant Raymond James Dillon 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

Cemetery – Photo by Mikkel Plannthin and information re crash are courtesy of Airwar over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com Hampden of 408 Sqn. was on Gardening (mining) Operation Pumpkin (Samsø Belt) Returning from the Pumpkin area it was hit by flak from the German mine sweeper 190J which laid anchored 2 miles west of Vesborg lighthouse and exploded in the air at approx. 02:00 killing all onboard. Later the same day the body of Pilot F/S Raymond James Dillon was found in the sea south west of Koldby Kaas, Samsø and by the German Wehrmacht laid to rest in Værløse cemetery near Copenhagen on 19/5-1942. The body of Wop/Air Gnr. Sgt William D. Palmer RAF was found drifted ashore near Koldby Kaas on the island of Samsø and was taken to Tranebjerg hospital. On 15/6 he was laid to rest with full military honours in Tranebjerg cemetery, the German Field Priest Johannes Vorrath officiating at the graveside ceremony. P/O Cyril Chesswell RAF and Sgt Raymond Wesley Dreyer have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/S Dillon is buried in the Kirke Vaerlose Churchyard, Denmark.

Grave Marker – Gravemarker of F/S Raymond J. Dillon RCAF, of Freeport, Illinois, U.S.A., at Vaerlose Churchyard Burial Grounds, Vaerlose, Zealand Island, Denmark.