The search begins
Upon returning back to the UK, Kevin started to use the internet to learn more about 619 Squadron RAF and learned that the were known as "The Forgotten Squadron" due to the fact that they were never officially issued with their squadron crest. He also discovered that there was a 619 Squadron Association group on the Facebook social media site, using this site, he explained the story of his trip to Austria and the intentions of Mayor Wolfgang Auer to create a fitting memorial to the crew who crashed in his small town.
The day after leaving the Facebook message, Kevin was contacted by a man called David Young who was keen to assist with the project and had a great deal of useful information. David had an immense collection of World War 2 Bomber Command information and a great deal specifically about 619 Squadron, he also had the details of some of the family members and passed this information over to Kevin. David's support proved to be very useful and slowly but surely the search began for any remaining survivors of the crew and their respective families.
As the search progressed it very soon became apparent that those who had survived the crash were sadly no longer with us and that the search was now purely to find relatives of those who flew in LM756 F- Freddy.
The day after leaving the Facebook message, Kevin was contacted by a man called David Young who was keen to assist with the project and had a great deal of useful information. David had an immense collection of World War 2 Bomber Command information and a great deal specifically about 619 Squadron, he also had the details of some of the family members and passed this information over to Kevin. David's support proved to be very useful and slowly but surely the search began for any remaining survivors of the crew and their respective families.
As the search progressed it very soon became apparent that those who had survived the crash were sadly no longer with us and that the search was now purely to find relatives of those who flew in LM756 F- Freddy.
The search for the families began with those who came from the UK, this ground to a halt whilst trying to locate the family of Flight Engineer Fred Cole. Luckily whilst chatting on Facebook with Ann Forrest, daughter of Flight Engineer Jack Forrest, also of 619 Squadron, she mentioned to Kevin that her father was great friends with Fred Cole and she had heard that the family had moved to Sweden, after some detective work by Kevin, contact was made with Fred Cole's son. David Young also had a lead to Canada for family members of Jack Speers, Kevin soon spoke to Doug and Derek Speers, the son and grandson of Jack Speers.
During this time David Young was also being very busy contacting Canadian press and other organisations to locate the final two families of Flying officer Wilf De Marco and Warrant Officer Gordon Walker. These two were the last of the crew whose families hadn't been located.
At this point, Canadian MP Charlie Angus heard of the story of the raid, Flying Officer Wilfred De Marco was from the same part of Canada as Charlie and he took great interest in the story and the story made the Canadian CTV news
http://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=285385
The result of the press enquiries by David Young and enquiries by Charlie Angus quickly led to discovering the whereabouts of Hap De Marco, brother of Wilf De Marco and the story was published in the Canadian National Post newspaper.
National Post Article
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/01/17/austrian-town-to-erect-memorial-for-canadian-bomber-pilots-blasted-out-of-the-skies-in-second-world-war-battle/
MP Charlie Angus article
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/charlie-angus/world-war-ii-bombers-canadian-crew_b_4703500.html
Following the success in locating the family of Wilf De Marco, steps were taken to locate the final family of Air Gunner Warrant Officer Gordon Walker, sadly reports came back from Canada that the family members of Gordon Walker wished to keep away from the memorial unveiling and these wishes were respectfully adhered to.
During this time David Young was also being very busy contacting Canadian press and other organisations to locate the final two families of Flying officer Wilf De Marco and Warrant Officer Gordon Walker. These two were the last of the crew whose families hadn't been located.
At this point, Canadian MP Charlie Angus heard of the story of the raid, Flying Officer Wilfred De Marco was from the same part of Canada as Charlie and he took great interest in the story and the story made the Canadian CTV news
http://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=285385
The result of the press enquiries by David Young and enquiries by Charlie Angus quickly led to discovering the whereabouts of Hap De Marco, brother of Wilf De Marco and the story was published in the Canadian National Post newspaper.
National Post Article
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/01/17/austrian-town-to-erect-memorial-for-canadian-bomber-pilots-blasted-out-of-the-skies-in-second-world-war-battle/
MP Charlie Angus article
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/charlie-angus/world-war-ii-bombers-canadian-crew_b_4703500.html
Following the success in locating the family of Wilf De Marco, steps were taken to locate the final family of Air Gunner Warrant Officer Gordon Walker, sadly reports came back from Canada that the family members of Gordon Walker wished to keep away from the memorial unveiling and these wishes were respectfully adhered to.