A memorial is set to be unveiled in the village of Eastrea in honour of a Lancaster Bomber crew who crashed there 80 years ago today (April 19).

On April 19, 1944, an Avro Lancaster ND475 of 57 Sqn Bomber Command, an RAF plane, was returning to Britain after a successful raid on the railway yards near Paris.

Without warning, the plane went into a steep dive and crashed in a field in Eastrea.

All of the crew members died in the crash, and only one body was recovered from the scene - that of Tail Gunner Sgt. Willis, who is buried in Bury Cemetery, Lancashire.

The remaining crew members bodies were never recovered. 

80 years to the day after the crew's death, a memorial to the men will be unveiled at Eastrea War Memorial on Wype Road. 

At 10:45am, guests from Whittlesey Town Council, representatives from 57 Sqn RAF, the 57 Sqn Association, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, Spilsby, and the Royal British Legion will gather to unveil the memorial.

The owners of the land where the plane crashed will also be there, as well as custodians of the site, local residents, and the last living individuals to witness the scene.

Councillor Wainwright and Councillor Wicks of Whittlesey Town Council privately arranged the memorial. 

It will pay tribute to the following men:

RAAF 420493 Plt Off Oberg, Albert Edward, Captain (Pilot - 32)

RAAF 425129 Plt Off Culliford, Ronald Firth (2nd Pilot - 22)

RAFVR 1522824 Sgt Kinnes, William Duncan (age unknown)

RAFVR 174670 Plt Off Crossley, Edmund Forbes (34)

RAFVR 174690 Plt Off Pizzey, Herbert Rex (23)

RAFVR 1394671 Sgt Richards, Joseph Stewart (20)

RAF 174599 Plt Off Adams, Henry Harris (40)

RAFVR 2208994 Sgt Willis, John Frederick (19)

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