Crash site investigators are searching for the relatives of an RAF pilot from Highams Park who was killed when his Halifax bomber crashed in Germany during the Second World War, writes Marco Marcelline
Photos of the aftermath of the crash were taken by the Germans, Credit: Erik Wieman
Crash site investigators are searching for the family of RAF airman Sydney Vivian ahead of a memorial in Germany next year.
Flying officer Sydney Vivian, 26, was co-piloting the plane when it was shot down near the German town of Ramsen on 11th August 1943, during a night-time bombing raid.
Now, 83 years later, crash site investigators in Germany are appealing for surviving family members to come forward ahead of plans for a memorial at the site next year.
Historian and crash site investigator Erik Wieman told the Echo: “We have found and excavated the crash site where Sydney Vivian died. He was the son of Clarence and Rosina Vivian from Highams Park and I am looking for any surviving descendants and relatives to inform them of the planned memorial.”
An RAF Halifax bomber, Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sydney was killed alongside five fellow RAF servicemen. They were flight engineer John Irving, air bomber Ronald Chapman, tail gunner William Davey, turret gunner Raymond Shaw and Australian airman Guy Ward.
Only two crew members survived: navigator McLearnon and radio operator Sgt. Bostle.
Sydney was flying one of 653 RAF bombers sent to attack Nuremberg, targeting infrastructure vital to the Nazi war effort. His aircraft, Halifax JD369, took off from RAF Pocklington in Yorkshire at 9.25pm on 10th August.
According to Erik, the first bombs fell on Nuremberg shortly before 1am. The raid caused extensive damage, with 585 people killed and 1,732 homes destroyed.
A dial fight instrument retrieved from the crash site, Credit: Erik Wieman
Halifax JD369 was one of 17 RAF bombers that failed to return from the mission.
According to Erik’s organisation IG Heimatforschung, the plane was struck down by German pilot Hans-Georg Birkenstock while it was flying at a low altitude and its proximity to the ground likely prevented the crew’s parachutes from fully opening.
Anyone related to Sydney Vivian is asked to contact Erik Wieman at [email protected]
More information about IG Heimatforschung and its crash site investigations can be found here
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