Wojnicz, Poland, 1986-08-10. A memorial plaque to the crew members of a Halifax bomber of No. 148 ...

Wojnicz, Poland, 1986-08-10. A memorial plaque to the crew members of a Halifax bomber of No. 148 Squadron RAF who were killed when their aircraft was shot down near Wojnicz in 1944. The plaque, erected in the town church by local citizens, commemorated the airmen's sacrifice and proclaimed the contribution of western nations to the liberation of Poland, in opposition to the official designation of the Soviet Union (USSR) as the country's liberator. For its unveiling, the memorial is adorned with the Union Jack and the flags of Canada and Australia, representing the different nationalities of the aircraft's crew. The inscription on the plaque reads: "On the anniversary of the Warsaw uprising to the memory of heroic allied pilots who assisted the Warsaw uprising. On the 5th of August 1944 (1944-08-05) in the Letowice region a Halifax from 148th RAF wing was shot down. Died for faith and liberty: PO (Pilot Officer) Pilot Ch. W. Crabtree RAF age 23; F Sgt (Flight Sergeant) Nar (Navigator) D. J. Mason RAF age 23; WO (Warrant Officer) WOP (Wireless Operator) J. A. Carroll RAF age -; F Sgt A/B (air bomber) A. Bennett RAAF age 29; Sgt F/E (flight engineer) D. Aird RAF age 19; F Sgt A/G (air gunner) Ch. A. Beanland RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) age -; Sgt A/G A. Sandilands RAF age 23. May God accept their sacrifice." (Original print housed in P run in AWM Archive Store) (Donor L. Swart)