CUISSY-ET-GENY CHURCHYARD
Aisne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.40951, Longitude: 3.70223
Location Information
Cuissy-et-Geny is a village in the Department of the Aisne, situated 36 kilometres east of Soissons and 37 kilometres north-west of Reims. In the churchyard, near and north of the church, is the collective grave of seven airmen. Five of them belonged to the Royal Air Force and two to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The airmen died on the 23rd April 1944.
Total Burials: 7.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 5, New Zealand 2. Total 7.
Cuissy-et-Geny is a village in the Department of the Aisne, situated 36 kilometres east of Soissons and 37 kilometres north-west of Reims. In the churchyard, near and north of the church, is the collective grave of seven airmen. Five of them belonged to the Royal Air Force and two to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The airmen died on the 23rd April 1944.
Total Burials: 7.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 5, New Zealand 2. Total 7.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Flight Details:
Base: R.A.F. Lakenheath, Suffolk
Unit: 149 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Stirling Mk III, serial EH943
Target: Laon, Aisne, France
Incident: The aircraft crashed at Cuissy-et-Geny (Aisne). There were no survivors
Details provided by Barry Cuttell
428180 Pilot Officer
Hewitt Elliott Billens
Pilot in 149 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
23rd April 1944, aged 23.
Son of Robert Hewutt and Myra Billens of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand; husband of Joan Barbara Billens of Palmerston North.
Hewitt Elliott Billens
Pilot in 149 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
23rd April 1944, aged 23.
Son of Robert Hewutt and Myra Billens of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand; husband of Joan Barbara Billens of Palmerston North.
426052 Flight Sergeant
Geoffrey Ernest Longley
Air Bomber in 149 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
23rd April 1944, aged 20.
Son of Frank Robert and Helen Elizabeth Longley of Riccarton, Canterbury, New Zealand; husband of Georgina Longley.
Geoffrey Ernest Longley
Air Bomber in 149 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
23rd April 1944, aged 20.
Son of Frank Robert and Helen Elizabeth Longley of Riccarton, Canterbury, New Zealand; husband of Georgina Longley.
Other Burial Details:
1594380 Sergeant Frank Lockwood Dawson, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 20. Son of Frank and Mildred Ashley of West Butterwick, Lincolnshire. His headstone bears the inscription "A Token Of Love And Remembrance Of One We Shall Never Forget"
1456993 Flight Sergeant Stephen Patrick Dullaghan, Navigator in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 21. Son of Stephen and Susannah Dullaghan of Liverpool.
1852300 Sergeant Stanley Sidney John Haines, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 19. Foster son of Ellen Powers of Shaw, Berkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them"
1601730 Sergeant Kenneth Archibald Harper, Wireless Operator in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 21. Son of Mr. & Mrs. A. Harper of Slough, Buckinghamshire. His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Kenneth. Deeply Mourned By Dad, Mum And Brothers"
1863129 Sergeant James Nicholls, Flight Engineer in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 19. Son of Benjamin Bancroft and Ada Nicholls of Loxley, Yorkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Ever In Our Thoughts"
1594380 Sergeant Frank Lockwood Dawson, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 20. Son of Frank and Mildred Ashley of West Butterwick, Lincolnshire. His headstone bears the inscription "A Token Of Love And Remembrance Of One We Shall Never Forget"
1456993 Flight Sergeant Stephen Patrick Dullaghan, Navigator in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 21. Son of Stephen and Susannah Dullaghan of Liverpool.
1852300 Sergeant Stanley Sidney John Haines, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 19. Foster son of Ellen Powers of Shaw, Berkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them"
1601730 Sergeant Kenneth Archibald Harper, Wireless Operator in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 21. Son of Mr. & Mrs. A. Harper of Slough, Buckinghamshire. His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Kenneth. Deeply Mourned By Dad, Mum And Brothers"
1863129 Sergeant James Nicholls, Flight Engineer in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd April 1944, aged 19. Son of Benjamin Bancroft and Ada Nicholls of Loxley, Yorkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Ever In Our Thoughts"
