Newspaper cutting 'Missing airman's grave found' and photograph of J H Dyer grave cross

Newspaper cutting 'Missing airman's grave found' and photograph of J H Dyer grave cross

On the right a newspaper cutting. Mentions that John Dyer failed to return from operation in January 1944. Gives account of RAF Missing Research and Enquiry Service findings on location of crash and the crew's graves. On the left a photograph of a white cross with '1217992 Sgt J H Dyer, RAF, 2 Jan 44'.

1948-04-23

One newspaper cutting and one b/w photograph

Melton Times

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NDyerJH160108-01

[Photograph]

[Inserted] Published Melton Times Friday 23rd April 1948 [/inserted]

MISSING AIRMAN’S GRAVE FOUND

IN January 1944 twenty one years old Sgt. John Dyer, R.A.F.V.R., radio operator in a Lancaster, failed to return to Metheringham R.A.F. station from a raid over Germany.
Now, after more than four years’ silence, there has come to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dyer, of Stathern, the news of his final resting place. The information is contained in a letter from R.A.F. Missing Research and Enquiry Service in Germany.
The search officers’ investigations reveal that the aircraft crashed near Nudow, which lies eight miles south-west of Berlin, and that all the members of the crew, who must have been killed instantly, were buried by the Germans in the cemetery there.

IN BRITISH CEMETERY

Individual identification has been possible in the case of four occupants of the grave, among them John Dyer, “and the remains have been reverently re-interred in the British Military Cemetery at Heerstrasse district of Berlin, where he now rests in Grave 27, Row A, Plot V, with his comrades in adjoining graves”
The letter goes on to explain “that this policy of re-burial has been agreed on by the Government because it is felt that our fallen should not be left in isolated cemeteries throughout Germany, but should rest together in special military cemeteries, the soil of which will always be British. A photograph will be sent to you, though this may take some considerable time.”
John, an Old Grammarian, joined the R.A.F.V.R. when he was 18 years old. He completed his training at Cottesmore R.A.F. station, and was posted to Syerston as a wireless operator in a Lancaster aircraft.