The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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210594 Sgt. John William Furniss Royal Air Force 158 Squadron from:Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire (d.11th December 1942) Sergeant John Furniss (1575389) was an Air Gunner (Rear Gunner) in 158 Squadron. He was originally from a farming family in rural Northamptonshire, before joining the RAF during World War 2. On December 11th 1942, his Halifax Mark II bomber (Serial DT579 Code NP-V)took off from RAF Rufforth at 1645h, as part of a formation of 82 aircraft on Operation Torino (destination Turin). Many of the aircraft had to turn back however due to icing on the wings. Sadly John's aircraft was hit over central France by a heavy barrage of flak. The aircraft crashed near the village of Villeneuve-en-Montagne, with debris spread over a wide area. All crew were lost - John was 19 years old when he died. The villagers attended the crash site and hid the bodies of the crew from the Germans, before giving them a burial in their village cemetery - Only 2 of the bodies were identifiable due to the situation of the crash. To this day all 7 crew lay in a collective grave in this quiet rural corner of France. Their sacrifice is regularly honoured by the local community. Anne-Marie Walduck Add to this record.  Related Content: No. 158 Squadron Royal Air Force RAF Rufforth Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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