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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Ronald Ernest MacFarlane

In memory of:

Flight Lieutenant Ronald Ernest MacFarlane

December 16, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

J/16696

Age:

21

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

101 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Honours and Awards:

Distinguished Flying Medal

Additional Information


Son of John and Phoebe MacFarlane, of Chilliwack, British Columbia.

Commemorated on Page 184 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

LEMSTERLAND (LEMMEER)-GENERAL-CEMETERY
Netherlands

Grave Reference:

Plot C. Row 8. Grave 230.

Location:

Lemmer, in the commune of Lemsterland, is a small port on the southern coast of Friesland, and is the main communication centre with the Noord Oost Polder. It lies 24 kilometres south of Sneek. This burial ground is on the northern outskirts of Lemmer, on the road to Sneek. The Commission plot is in the north-western part.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Flight Lieutenant Ronald Ernest MacFarlane is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Lieutenant Ronald Ernest MacFarlane is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery– Photo of Lemmer General Cemetery, Lemsterland, Friesland, Holland (CWGC)
From www.lostbombers.co.uk:-
F/L MacFarlane was pilot on Lancaster DV-300 with 101 (RAF) Squadron.  The crew had taken part in the raids on Berlin 18/19 Nov 43 and 2/3 Dec 43.  It was on another operation to Berlin 16/17 December 1943 when it was lost. 
The crew was airborne 1625 on the 16th from their home base at Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire.  It was shot down by a night-fighter (Pilot Oblt Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer IV/NJG1) and exploded at 1815 over the Banco Polder, and close to Lemmer, Holland, where they were buried.  Three of the crew have no known grave, including F/O (WAG) L. E. Thompson, RCAF, who was the ABC Operator, and the 8th crew member.  Five of the crew are buried in the cemetery.  The crew were:
F/L (P) Ronald E. MacFarlane, DFM, age 21, from Chilliwack, B. C.
Sgt. (FE) J. E. Clarke, age 21, from Essex, England
Sgt. (N) Leonard D. Wilson, age 20, from Yorkshire
Sgt. (AB) Frederick R. Westall, age 21, from London, England
Sgt. Donald B. Harvey (no known grave)
Sgt. John Ireland, age 22, from Lancashire (no known grave)
Sgt. (AG) Eric R. E. Jordan, age 21, from Reading, Berkshire
  • Photo of Ronald Ernest MacFarlane– Image courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives
  • Grave Marker– A picture of the grave marker of F/Lt R. E. MacFarlane, RCAF, Lemmer, the Netherlands.

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