William Bernard Oakes
(Picture ceded by Ian Garth)
Date
Location
Force
Aircraft
From-To
Crew
13-07-1941
Esposende (no mar/on the sea)
RAF OADU
Vickers Wellington IC Z8780
Portreath (GB) → Gibraltar
Sgt. William Bernard Oakes GB †
Sgt. Henry Gerald Peel Canada †
Sgt. Colin James Dixon GB †
Sgt. Trevor Vaughan Davies GB †
Sgt. Derek Cecil Haynes GB †
Sgt. Stephen Thomas Mcneil Canada †
The plane was seen by the population of Esposende in flames before crashing into the sea where it sank completely destroyed.
Remains of the dismembered crew were collected in the following days and gathered at the local fire station. What was found fit into a coffin that was buried in St. James cemetery, in oporto, in a single grave.
The funeral was attended by Allied officers and an honor guard was formed by Portuguese forces.
Fontes/ Resources:
* “Aviões da Cruz de Cristo” – Mário Cannongia Lopes
* Documentação diversa do RAF Museum através de Mário Canongia Lopes
*Commonwealth War Graves Commission
*Ian Garth
