Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Newspaper clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flying Officer Keith Willard Rainford is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flying Officer Keith Willard Rainford is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Photo of Keith Rainford – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Memorial – The Private Memorial to Pilot Officer Willard donated and maintained by local interests in Karslunde.

Photo of Keith Willard Rainford – Respects paid to this young Canadian, today 21-

Memorial – Photo and story is from Airwar Over Denmark on www.flensted.eu.com and used with permission of Søren Flensted. (Photo John Davidson) See website for more information. Halifax III MZ865 of 429 Sqn took off on 14.2.1945 at 18:03 from Leeming on a gardening (mining) operation in the Kadett Channel. At 21:01 hours the Halifax was attacked by a German night fighter and crashed into the Baltic Sea about 8 kilometres off the Falsterbo lighthouse killing all onboard. The body of W/Op F/O Keith W. Rainford was found washed ashore at Karlslunde beach on the island of Sjælland on 28 May and was laid to rest in Karlslunde cemetery on 31 May 1945. The bodies of Pilot F/Lt Ross C. Charlton and Flt. Engr. P/O Wolodemir Fedorchuk were recovered from the sea west of Skanör by the Swedish navy and laid to rest in Pålsjö cemetery at Hälsingborg. Also Mid Upper Gunner Sgt Gordon L.J. Barnes rests in Hälsingborg. Navigator F/O Robert A. Thorne was found on the Skanör beach and was laid to rest in Malmö cemetery. On 16/7 the dead body of Tail Gunner F/Sgt Stanley E. Bosttwick was found washed ashore near Vindeby on the island of Langeland and was laid to rest in Magleby cemetery on 20 July 1945. A Canadian Field Priest officiated at the graveside ceremony. Bomb Aimer P/O Robert J. McCallum has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Memorial – Photo of F/O Rainford's grave marker courtesy of Airwar Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com