PREPARATORY work to recover the remains of a local Second World War hero has begun in the Netherlands.
Thurnscoe man, Sgt Alfred Mortimer, 31, was part of a five-man crew shot down on June 26, 1943.
The Wellington Bomber, upon which he was the navigator, has laid underwater for more than eight decades since.
But an expensive and pioneering operation is now in the early stages as the Dutch bid to pay ‘a debt of honour’ to the men who helped liberate them from Nazi rule.
Part of the sea wall off the Dutch coast, near Holwert, will have to be excavated in the operation.
This is the first instance of its kind of complex engineering.
The project is being overseen by the Royal Netherlands Airforce in conjunction with the local authorities and Stichting Missing Airmen Foundation (SMAMF).
Leesmans Speciaalwerken will be leading the engineering side.
In a statement, SMAMF, said: “The salvage of HE346’s wreck is aimed at giving the remains of Mortimer and the other four missing crew members a dignified reburial.
“The excavation is directed by the Recovery Officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force on behalf of the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân. “The historical research and the tracing of the crewmen’s relatives has been carried out by the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation (SMAMF) from Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.
“The recovery of Wellington HE346 is part of the National Programme for Aircraft Salvage, a programme that the Dutch government started in 2018 to excavate the last dozens of aircraft wrecks in which human remains are still present.”
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THERE will be two tribute ceremonies taking place to honour the fallen airman.
As the Dutch have their own planned ceremony at the excavation site in Holwert, a tribute has also been organised in Thurnscoe.
Sgt Mortimer’s name appears on the war memorial in Thurnscoe Park and an event has been organised there at 11am on August 29.
Peter Shield is helping to organise the event.
He said: “We have two buglers coming and hopefully representatives from the RAF and the Lord-Lieutenant’s office.
“The local councillors will also be in attendance and wreaths will be laid.
“The general public are also invited to pay their respects.
“I think it’s a good idea to do this recovery and at least then it gives the family a place to go.”
