LOST AIRMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 September 1945, Page 6

LOST AIRMEN

R.A.F. NEW SERVICE Fragments of crashed planes, watches, rings, laundry marks, initials on the backs of cigarette cards and an old school scarf have provided clues to the identity of airmen whose fate had been a mystery since they were reported missing during the war in Europe (says the London “Daily Telegraph”). . , Already the R.A.F. Missing Research and Inquiry Service has established the fate of many hundreds of airmen. This service was set up by the Air Ministry in conjunction with the Dominion air force authorities to investigate cases too complicated to be dealt with through normal channels.

Though the war in Europe is over, the work of the Service, which has increased enormously in recent months, has only just begun. It is operating throughout France, Luxembourg and Belgium. Holland will next be covered. then Norway, Denmark, and finally Germany. The photographs of a family group and an address were found on a dead airman near the Spanish frontier. Inquiries at the address showed that a girl in the photograph was the English wife of a French doctor. From the doctor it was learned that the airman was a Canadian who had crashed in Northern France. The doctor had befriended him, but subsequently, in endeavouring to escape to Spain, the airman was.killed within a few yards of the frontier.

In another case from charred fragments of an insurance certificate issued by a jeweller’ it was found that an airman had bought an engagement ring. In this way his fiancee was traced and his identity established.