Photo Caption
Police Commissionaire Jose Clauw, President of the Veuvre Branch of the Belgium Veterans Association, presenting the Station Commander, Group Captain Phil Osbourn, with the tree to commemorate the second world war crew of Wellington R 3162 from 38 Squadron. The crew were killed in action on 30 May 1940.


World War 2 Wellington Crew From RAF Marham Are Honoured By Belgium Veterans
On the night of 30 May 1940 seventeen Wellington Bombers from RAF Marham took off to provide close air support for the beleaguered British Expeditionary Force, as they withdrew from the beaches of Dunkirk. Sadly R 3162 from 38 squadron was shot down near the town of Veurve in Belgium and the 6-man crew were killed. They were Flying Officer V Rosewarne (Pilot), Pilot Officer R Baynes (CO Pilot), Sgt J Knight (Air Observer), Sgt J Dolan (Air Gunner) and Aircraftswomen 2nd Class J Adams (Air Gunner).

The crash site, 6 miles north of the French Border is now a woodland and members of the Veurve Branch of the Belgium Veterans Association recently travelled to RAF Marham to plant a tree, from the crash site, in the gardens of the Officers Mess. The Police Commissionaire of Veuvre, Jose Clauw who said in his speech ‘This tree, as its roots take, will be a symbol of the friendship between our two countries and our two communities’, planted the tree. Also present at the ceremony was Flight Lieutenant (Retired) Allan Richardson, who was serving on 38 Squadron at the time and now lives in Swaffham.



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