Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Pilot Officer Francis Winburn Gunn is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Pilot Officer Francis Winburn Gunn 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

Photo of Francis Winburn Gunn – Francis Winburn Gunn RCAF Navigator. Served at RAF Wickenby 626 Squadron. On the 24/25th April 1944 Francis was aboard Lancaster UM-K2 Serail No. DV 177 on a mission to Karlsruhe, Germany. With the mission completed the aircraft was returning to Wickenby in Lincolnshire U.K. when it was attacked over England. This is recorded in German records as occurring at 0358 hours on 25.04.44 5-15 Km south of Diss 51.00 N / 00.50 E and the German pilot was Unteroffizier Beier of 6/KG 51. (Diss is in Norfolk - the aircraft would not long have been back over land). In the attack the British rear gunner was killed, the aircraft damaged and set on fire. The Canadian pilot Murray McPherson made an attempt to carry out an emergency landing at Boxted airfield which is near Colchester north Essex. This was a large American base known as Boxted Station 150. It was situated near the village of Langham. At 0410 hours 25.04.44, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in fields near the edge of the base. Had they remained airborne for another thirty seconds they would have reached the main runway. Francis came from Carrot River, Saskatchewan and left behind a young daughter, three sisters and his parents. He is buried alongside his fellow Canadian airmen, Murray McPherson and Robert Cameron at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey U.K. The Lancaster was crewed by four British and three Canadians. A small memorial to the crew of UM-K2 DV 177 will be unveiled near the crash location on April 25, 2013. Information about this can be seen on this forum: WW2talk.com

Cross of Sacrifice – Cross of Sacrifice - Brookwood Military Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Stone of Remembrance – Stone of Remembrance - Brookwood Military Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Grave Marker – Brookwood Military Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

War Memorial – This memorial commemorates airman who were killed in aircraft crash on April 25, 1944. Three members of the crew served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Pilot Officer Murray Langtry McPherson of Myrtle, Manitoba, Pilot Officer Francis Winburn Gunn of Carrot River, Saskatchewan and Mid Upper Gunner Robert Edgar Hall Cameron of London, Ontario. All three were killed near Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom. The memorial was unveiled on April 25, 2013.

War Memorial – This memorial commemorates airman who were killed in aircraft crash on April 25, 1944. Three members of the crew served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Pilot Officer Murray Langtry McPherson of Myrtle, Manitoba, Pilot Officer Francis Winburn Gunn of Carrot River, Saskatchewan and Mid Upper Gunner Robert Edgar Hall Cameron of London, Ontario. All three were killed near Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom. The memorial was unveiled on April 25, 2013.

Inscription

Newspaper Clipping – The road names were awarded to the airmen by Colchester Borough Council and the main road sign to the new development was unveiled on the Sunday nearest the crash date this year 24th April 2016 by Peter Potter. He is a 626 Squadron veteran and lives locally.

Street – Lancaster Approach

Street

Gunn Lake – Gunn Lake is located 59' 38' N and 108' 51' W The site was officially gazetted by the Province of Saskatchewan on September 5, 1957. Photo credit Doug Chisholm

Gunn Lake – Gunn Lake is located 59' 38' N and 108' 51' W. The site was officially gazetted by the Province of Saskatchewan on September 5, 1957. Photo credit Doug Chisholm

Gunn Lake – Gunn Lake is located 59' 38' N and 108' 51' W. The site was officially gazetted by the Province of Saskatchewan on September 5, 1957. Photo credit Doug Chisholm