Relatives of three Royal Air Force airmen gathered in The Netherlands today to witness their burial with full military honours, 82 years after they were killed in action during the Second World War.

Members of the airmen's families, and of the Dutch military were present for the service (Crown Copyright)

Pilot Officer Charles Sprack DFM (Distinguished Flying Medal), Pilot Officer Arthur Smart DFM, and Pilot Officer Raymond Moore DFM were laid to rest at Workum (Spoardyk) General Cemetery, following the recovery of their remains from the wreckage of AVRO Lancaster MkIII ED603. The aircraft crashed into the IJsselmeer near the village of Workum on the night of 12/13 June 1943 during a bombing raid on Bochum, Germany.

The Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC)

See Full Page