Kemp, Douglas James Ashley
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Douglas James Ashley |
Surname | Kemp |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of James William and Edith Kemp, of Romford, Essex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LL306 |
Markings | NF-R |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Veauville les Baons Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave. |
Epitaph | FOR OUR TOMORROW THEY GAVE THEIR TODAY |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 193 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1861978 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 138 (Special Duties) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial with inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In honour of the men and women of Special Duties Sqns stationed at RAF Tempsford |
Location | "The Barn" Gibraltar Farm, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Plaque & Framed Scroll |
Memorial Text | To commemorate the men and women of different nationalities who flew from RAF Tempsford to aid resistance forces in occupied Europe |
Location | St. Peter's Church, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet, Wooden Boards, Brass Plaques & RoH |
Memorial Text | Remembering all those who flew from RAF Tempsford including those of the Royal Australian Air Force |
Miscellaneous Information
An eye witness to the crash stated that the crew came under attack from a nightfighter and following a fire fight between the two aircraft there was a large explosion and Halifax LL306 fell to the ground. Russian prisoners were ordered to dig a grave in the middle of the field where the plane fell and the remains of the seven crew were at first buried in a collective grave. After several attempts the villagers of Veauville-les-Baons persuaded the local German Commander to permit internment in their churchyard. The funeral and a memorial service that followed was attended by large crowds with a great number of wreaths and flowers being laid on the grave. The inscription on the grave read: "ICI REPOSENT LES RESTRE DES AVIATEURS ANGLAIS TOMBES LE 8 JUIN 1944. R.I.P." |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-06-1944 |
End Date | 08-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Tempsford |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Special Intelligence Services- Operations Periwinkle and Walt 3, for France |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Veauville-les-Baons, NNE of Yvetot, France |