Meant to post this earlier. http://www.destentor.nl/regio/voorst/laatste-wens-canadese-veteraan-gaat-in-vervulling-1.5204785
Canadian veteran air gunner f/Sgt. Linton Arthur Stephenson passed away on February 10th, 2015. His wish to be re-united with his crew was fulfilled on Wednesday September 2nd, when his ashes were added to the communal graves of his 1943 crew in a well attended service in the cemetery of Terwolde (Netherlands). His six comrades in arms were all killed when their RAF 100 Sq. Lancaster I (ED976) was shot down by a nightfighter near Teuge on June 12th, 1943. Stephenson was the only survivor.
By: Tango Charlie - 1st October 2015 at 17:54
That says a huge amount when you think he still had 70 years of life after the war but still chose to be with his crew mates rather than family.
Reminds me of one of my WW2 veterans that I flew to Project Propeller a year or so ago. He was one of two survivors from his Lancaster crew, shot down on only his fourth mission, remaining crew went to their deaths in their Lancaster.
He said he has tried to live as full a life as possible experiencing as much as he can for his fallen comrades who all died so young and never got the chance. The Lancs skipper was 26, youngest crew member 19 the others aged between. Normans crew are interred in Germany far from home.
By: trumper - 1st October 2015 at 16:27
That says a huge amount when you think he still had 70 years of life after the war but still chose to be with his crew mates rather than family.
By: Soggy - 1st October 2015 at 14:35
A lovely end to the story.
Well said, Alan. I can hear a cheer going up in the great crew-room-in-the-sky as F/Sgt Stephenson checks in. Respects and thanks to him, and condolences to his family.
By: AlanR - 1st October 2015 at 13:17
A lovely end to the story.
By: CeBro - 1st October 2015 at 12:04
Very fitting,
We had such a case too during 2000 when a Manchester crewmember passed away and his last wish was to be buried next to his former crewmembers
at Bergen cemetery. The aircraft having crashed in 1942. His grave is only marked by a plaque in the grass.
Cees
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October 1, 2015 at 11:31 am