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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.
