Rebecq Commemorations
550 Squadron Commemorations in Rebecq, Belgium
JA712/BQ-H
Photographs from the commemoration services in Rebecq for P/O E C Purney and the crew of JA712 who lost their lives when their plane was shot down by a German night-fighter during the night of 27/28 May 1944 as it was coming back from a bombing mission over Aachen. The aircraft crashed at Rebecq-Rognon (Brabant), 25 km SW of Brussel. Also commemorated are the townfolk of Rebecq who came to the aid of the sticken crew-men some of whom who paid with their lives.
The following crew members were killed and are buried in the cemetery at Brussels-Evere:
- P/O E C Purney RCAF (P)
- Sgt J L Sheahan RAFVR (F/Eng)
- Sgt T E Flanagan RCAF (Nav)
- Sgt P C M King (W/Op)
- Sgt K H F de Lengerke (R/AG)
Their entries on the 550 Squadron Roll of Honour can be viewed here.
Two members of the crew survived:
- Sgt E J Molnar RCAF (A/B): Evaded capture
- Sgt D Yardley (MU/AG): Injured in the crash, PoW.
For more information about the crew see also the P/O Purney crew web-page.
Click on the pictures below to see photographs of recent commemoration events.
Commemoration 2025
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Photographs taken at the mid-May Commemoration service |
Commemoration 2023
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Photographs taken at the May 2023 Lancaster flypast event |
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Photographs taken at the mid-May Commemoration service |
Commemoration 2022
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Photographs taken at the May 2022 commemoration service |
Commemoration 2021
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Photographs taken at the September 2021 commemoration service |
Commemoration 2019
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Photographs taken at the May 2019 commemoration service |
Commemoration 2018
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Photographs taken at the May 2018 commemoration service |
Commemoration 2017
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Photographs taken at the May 2017 commemoration service
Jack Harris gave a short address, and was presented with drawings by local school children |
Commemoration 2016
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Photographs taken at the May 2016 commemoration service |
Commemoration 2015
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Photographs taken at the May 2015 commemoration service
Jack Harris gave a short address |
Commemoration 2014
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Photographs taken at the May 2014 commemoration service
A new plaque added to the memorial to commemorate all of the 550 air-crews lost over Belgium |
Commemoration 2013
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Photographs taken at the May 2013 commemoration service |
Commemoration 2012
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Photographs taken at the May 2012 commemoration service
The photo features a fragment of the 550 aircraft recovered from the crash site (and now in the museum in North Killingholme) |
Unveiling 2011
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Photographs taken at the unveiling of the memorial in May 2011 |