HEITEREN COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Haut-Rhin
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 47.97019, Longitude: 7.5406
Location Information
Heiteren is a village 5 kilometres south of Neuf-Brisach on the D468 road, which runs roughly parallel to the Franco-German border from Strasbourg to Basel in Switzerland. The communal cemetery is on the eastern side of the village, about 100 metres from the church and opposite the school. Near the middle of the eastern wall are the graves of 5 British airmen.
Historical Information
The following information is courtesy of the 100 Years Challenge Group:
"Flight engineer Sergeant John Alfred Hargreaves, mid upper gunner Sergeant John Fenwick Weatherall, navigator Pilot Officer James Lever Atherton, wireless operator Sergeant James Arthur Buncher, and air gunner Sergeant John James Opie, 166 Squadron, the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, were killed when their aircraft was shot down over Germany. They lie buried in the communal cemetery in the village of Helterin in France.
On the day of their deaths they had taken off at 21.30 from R.A.F. Kirmington in Lincolnshire for a mission over Friedrichshafen in Germany. They were shot down over Freiburg-im-Bresgau by the Luftwaffe's night fighter ace Oberleutnant Leopold Fellerer, a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He would survive the war, but would die in a plane crash in 1968 at the age of forty-nine. Those who survived and were taken prisoner on the night of the 28th of April were the pilot, Pilot Officer Douglas Milton Bridges, and air bomber Flying Officer David George Wood."
Heiteren is a village 5 kilometres south of Neuf-Brisach on the D468 road, which runs roughly parallel to the Franco-German border from Strasbourg to Basel in Switzerland. The communal cemetery is on the eastern side of the village, about 100 metres from the church and opposite the school. Near the middle of the eastern wall are the graves of 5 British airmen.
Historical Information
The following information is courtesy of the 100 Years Challenge Group:
"Flight engineer Sergeant John Alfred Hargreaves, mid upper gunner Sergeant John Fenwick Weatherall, navigator Pilot Officer James Lever Atherton, wireless operator Sergeant James Arthur Buncher, and air gunner Sergeant John James Opie, 166 Squadron, the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, were killed when their aircraft was shot down over Germany. They lie buried in the communal cemetery in the village of Helterin in France.
On the day of their deaths they had taken off at 21.30 from R.A.F. Kirmington in Lincolnshire for a mission over Friedrichshafen in Germany. They were shot down over Freiburg-im-Bresgau by the Luftwaffe's night fighter ace Oberleutnant Leopold Fellerer, a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He would survive the war, but would die in a plane crash in 1968 at the age of forty-nine. Those who survived and were taken prisoner on the night of the 28th of April were the pilot, Pilot Officer Douglas Milton Bridges, and air bomber Flying Officer David George Wood."
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
575689 Sergeant
John Alfred Hargreaves
Flight Engineer in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force
28th April 1944, aged 20.
Son of John and Jessie Hargreaves, of Salford, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
John Alfred Hargreaves
Flight Engineer in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force
28th April 1944, aged 20.
Son of John and Jessie Hargreaves, of Salford, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
605522 Sergeant
John Fenwick Weatherell
Air Gunner in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th April 1944.
Son of Thomas H. Weatherell, and of Nancy E. Weatherell, of New York City, U.S.A.
John Fenwick Weatherell
Air Gunner in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th April 1944.
Son of Thomas H. Weatherell, and of Nancy E. Weatherell, of New York City, U.S.A.
Other Burial Details
162805 Pilot Officer James Lever Atherton, Navigator in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th April 1944, aged 32. Son of Stanley and Mary L. Atherton; husband of Florence Enid Atherton, of South Croydon, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Always Remembered By Kathleen And Enid"
1610917 Sergeant James Arthur Buncher, Wireless Operator in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th April 1944, aged 21. Son of James Gilbert Buncher, and of Emily Buncher, of Sydenham, London. His headstone bears the inscription "Our Loss Is Great But We Hope In Heaven To Meet Again The One We Loved So Dear"
1312291 Sergeant John James Opie, Air Gunner in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th April 1944, aged 21. Son of Charles Opie and of Celia Opie (nee Stone); nephew of Mr. J. R. Opie, of Helston, Cornwall. His headstone bears the inscription "A Loving Son, Only Lent, One Of The Best God Ever Sent"
