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PostPosted: 10 Sep 2014, 03:26 
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70 years ago tonight, my late father Ken Crossley visited Warsaw (or thereabouts)
34 Sqd Liberator KH150 'R' departed Foggia/Celone at 1845 hrs 10 Sept returning some 10hrs 55min later at 0540hrs 11 Sept - sadly Target obscured 10/10 cloud RTB with supply containers
Crew- Capt Keith CARTER (pilot i/c), Lt Jan Gysbert MARITZ (2nd pilot), Lt Jon Daniel Retief SLABBER (Observer) and WO1 Mark Albert LAWRENCE (W/Op A/G) all SAAF Sgt Thomas GARATTY (Bomb Aimer), Sgt Kenneth CROSSLEY (A/G), Sgt Eric HYAMS (A/G) and Sgt Kenneth Richard TODD (A/G) all RAF(VR)
AFAIK all of the above survived the War

PZULBA - Out of Africa (Retired)


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PostPosted: 10 Sep 2014, 05:13 
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Brave men indeed.

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PostPosted: 26 Mar 2019, 09:46 
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I visited the CWGC section (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) in Newark-on-Trent (Nottinghamshire) yesterday and came across the following, with specific reference to SAAF participation:-

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Overall view of the CWGC section containing mainly headstones of Polish airmen, who died serving their country in WW2. The large cross centre right commemorates this, also buried here is wartime President Raczkiewicz of Poland and General Sikorski, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Forces. Sikorski's remains was returned to Poland in 1993.
**Also note the red arrow in the centre of the picture, this shows a memorial stone dedicated to British and Commonwealth airmen who flew aid to the citizens of Warsaw in 1944.**

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A close-up showing the Springbok emblem on the side of the memorial, denoting the SAAF participation in the Warsaw Air Bridge. There are also emblems denoting Canadian and Australian participation.

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Memorial stone honouring Commonwealth airmen.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/ce ... 20CEMETERY

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Last edited by Tally-ho on 12 Oct 2021, 07:09, edited 2 times in total.

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PostPosted: 26 Mar 2019, 09:59 
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Tally-ho, Thanks for posting.

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PostPosted: 26 Apr 2019, 16:36 
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Walking through the Commonwealth War Graves section of the cemetery this morning, I came across the sterling work done by the CWGC as regards upkeep and maintenance of same. The van has a lawnmower, gardening tools, pesticide and weed spray, compost and bags to remove stuff. All neat and tidy with a crew of two. The plinth in front commemorates the allied air forces who participated in the Warsaw mission as per previous posts, note the Springbok emblem. Cross of Remembrance is left centre.

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PostPosted: 26 Apr 2019, 17:00 
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Great to see they're maintaining the graves and surrounding area.

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PostPosted: 26 Apr 2019, 22:14 
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Location: Whangarei, New Zealand
Great to see that TallyHo still reads this forum too!

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PostPosted: 06 May 2019, 10:21 
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The Katyn Memorial in Melrose Street, Abbotsfort, Jhb is also a very interesting site to visit

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The Warsaw Flights Commemoration is held there by the Polish Community each on the first Sunday in September


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PostPosted: 12 Oct 2021, 12:30 
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The annual commemoration of historical events known as the Warsaw Air Bridge, the air-dropping of supplies to the beleaguered Polish Home Army in August and September 1944, took place at the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) section at the Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, cemetery on Sunday 26 Sept 2021.
Walking through the cemetery recently I noticed the wreaths laid down on the day. The memorial also honours the contribution made by the SAAF, by virtue of a Springbok emblem and the former motto of the RSA.
Involved, amongst other Allied Air Forces, were 31 and 34 Squadrons SAAF, flying B-24 Liberators on a round trip from Italy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_airlift

Lest we forget.

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Below is the view from the Air Bridge Memorial overlooking the CWGC section (white headstones within the hedged area) of the cemetery.

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PostPosted: 12 Oct 2021, 21:08 
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We will remember them.

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