Commonwealth War Graves Langdorp

At the Churchyard in Langdorp are eight Commonwealth war graves, these are the graves of F/S D.J.Ashby-Peckham, Sgt R.P.Goward, Sgt A.E.Gurney, Sgt E.D.Hart, F/O A.R.Helvard, Sgt T.R.Lunn, Sgt P.D.McArdle and P/O W.G.Shillinglaw. On June 22, 1943 departed at 0014 from Downham Market airbase, the Stirling BK712, with a bombing mission to the city of Krefeld in Germany. The aircraft was shot down over Belgium by night-fighter [i]Major[/i] Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer 111NJG1. Then it crashed at 0133 in Langdorp. In the crash alle crew members were killed, they are all buried in this cemetery. Special is the gravestone of F/O A.R.Helvard, he was of Danish descent and has a Danish writing at the bottom of his tombstone (photo 5). There is a plaque commemorating the eight RAF airmen who are buried there. Translated text on the plaque: [i]IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 8 RAF AIRMEN WHO ON JUNE 22, 1943 IN THEIR SHORT STIRLING BK-712 ABOVE LANGDORP TERRITORY WERE SHOT AND WERE BURIED HERE.[/i] [url="https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/18267/Oorlogsgraven-van-het-Gemenebest-Langdorp.htm"]Commonwealth War Graves Langdorp[/url]