PLOUZANÉ CHURCHYARD
Finistère
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 48.38234, Longitude: -4.62184
Image above © Thierry Grier
Location Information
Plouzané is a village and commune 10 kilometres west of Brest, on a local road to the small town of St. Renan. The most convenient way of reaching the village is by taxi from Brest. The churchyard is on the southern side of the village. South of the Calvary are the graves of five airmen of the Royal Air Force and one airman of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Images in gallery below © Thierry Grier
The following six crew members from 149 Squadron took off from Mildenhall Airfield at 22:41 on 1st July 1941 when their Wellington Ic R1408 crashed at Plouzané, 10kms West of Brest in France. All six crew members were killed.
60078 Pilot Officer
George Frederick Burbidge
Observer in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st July 1941, aged 27.
Son of George Frederick and Victoria Maud Burbidge, of Wanstead Park, London.
George Frederick Burbidge
Observer in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st July 1941, aged 27.
Son of George Frederick and Victoria Maud Burbidge, of Wanstead Park, London.
88864 Pilot Officer
John Ellis Horsfield
Pilot in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st July 1941, aged 20.
Son of Herbert Ellis Horsfield and Freda Adelaide Horsfield, of Beckenham, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Be Unto You"
John Ellis Horsfield
Pilot in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st July 1941, aged 20.
Son of Herbert Ellis Horsfield and Freda Adelaide Horsfield, of Beckenham, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Be Unto You"
650014 Sergeant
Francis Theodore Kearney
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force
1st July 1941, aged 22.
Nephew of Mrs. Austral R. Madeley, of Chadderton, Lancashire.
Francis Theodore Kearney
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force
1st July 1941, aged 22.
Nephew of Mrs. Austral R. Madeley, of Chadderton, Lancashire.
401768 Sergeant
Bryan Daniel James Kennedy
Pilot in 149 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
1st July 1941, aged 25.
Son of Michael Aloysius and Kathleen Amelia Kennedy.
Bryan Daniel James Kennedy
Pilot in 149 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
1st July 1941, aged 25.
Son of Michael Aloysius and Kathleen Amelia Kennedy.
997198 Sergeant
James Copland Robertson
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st July 1941.
James Copland Robertson
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st July 1941.
Other Airman's Details
85709 Pilot Officer John Farmer Philpott, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st July 1941, aged 36. Son of the Revd. Robert George Kenrick Farmer Philpott, M.A., and Fanny Philpott, of Worcester. His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And The Morning We Will Remember Them"
85709 Pilot Officer John Farmer Philpott, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st July 1941, aged 36. Son of the Revd. Robert George Kenrick Farmer Philpott, M.A., and Fanny Philpott, of Worcester. His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And The Morning We Will Remember Them"
