Anyone know any more about these units postwar about finding missing aircrews and identifying remains? Spoke to a veterans widow and her husband, a pilot in the RCAF volunteered to work in this unit until about 1947.Appreciate any further info regarding these units, cheers Darrell
By: bolyman - 23rd March 2009 at 20:50
Hi Don, yes of the 55 RCAF would the book states any names that worked for the MRES? and how many personnel the unit had identified? I borrowed 2 note books from the widow of an RCAF flier volunteered into the MRES on account of a cousin that was lost but had been found in a Dutch forest in the remains of a Wellington in 1951 long after he was expatriated in 1947. The note books are filled with notes and names of witnesses and quite graphic in regards to exhumation and identifying remains, I have started to read them in earnest and am very moved in finding out more info on this seldom discussed topic, thank you, Darrell
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd March 2009 at 08:17
Don – I stand corrected! Yes, that was the book I was trying to think of. The Hadaway book, though, is excellent on the subject.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd March 2009 at 07:32
It is interesting that the work of the MREU’s was only carried on outside the UK. The cases within the UK were overlooked, which is why a number of missing airmen have been found in the UK post-war.
The books already mentioned are certainly well worth a look. There is another called (from memory) “Missing Plane” which details work in Papua New Guinea, I think.
There is a further book which will look at missing Battle of Britain casualties and how they came to be left where they had fallen in their home country and subsequently found in the 70’s and 80’s.
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March 23, 2009 at 12:15 am