Berinzenne Memorial
RAF 550 Squadron Lancaster ME581
F/O P.G. Milburn and Crew
RAF 550 Squadron Lancaster ME581 was lost during the night of 22/23 April 1944 when it was shot down by a night-fighter while returning from a bombing mission over Duesseldorf. The aircraft crashed 5 km SE of Spa (Liege), 10 km S of Verviers.
The crew were all killed and are buried in Heverlee War Cemetery:
- F/O P G Milburn RCAF (P)
- F/O J Palfrey (F/Eng)
- P/O N W E Burdett RCAF (Nav)
- F/O B B Ashley RCAF (B/A)
- Sgt S W Courtenay (W/Op)
- Sgt S M Clarke (A/G)
- Sgt D W Magan (A/G)
The entry on the 550 Squadron Roll of Honour is available here.
Memorial
The local inhabitants erected a memorial to the crew in the Fagnes of Berinzenne. The force of impact left a four metres deep crater, near which now stands the memorial dedicated to the crew.
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Memorial stone
Photo courtesy of Michel Jaupart |
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Plaque commemorating the crew members
Photo courtesy of Michel Jaupart |
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550 Squadron insignia
Photo courtesy of Michel Jaupart |
Many thanks to Michel Jaupart of the Institut des vétérans, Bruxelles for sending the photos in and permission to put them on the web-site. To learn more about the work of the Institut click here.
Memorial Visit 2011 
07/08/2011
The Milburn family visited the Berinzenne monument in 2011 - in the case of F/O P Milburn's twin brother 60 years after first visting the monument.
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F/O P Milburn's twin brother at the Memorial
Photo courtesy of the Milburn family |
See also the 550 Association Facebook page and a few more photos on the milburn blog.
F/O P Milburn RCAF (Pilot) 28/06/2011
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F/O Phil Milburn RCAF
Photo courtesy of the Milburn family |
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News paper clipping reporting the loss of F/O Phil Milburn RCAF and crew
Photo courtesy of the Milburn family |
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Log book cover
Photo courtesy of the Milburn family |
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Log book
Photo courtesy of the Milburn family |
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Log book
Photo courtesy of the Milburn family |
P/O N Burdett RCAF (Nav)
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Norman Burdett RCAF
Photo courtesy of Alistair Taylor |
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R Burdett RCAF (brother, A/G but not with 550 Sqdn)
Photo courtesy of Alistair Taylor |
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R Burdett RCAF (brother)
(photo is labelled R Burdett, but appears to be more like N Burdett) Photo courtesy of Alistair Taylor |
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Log book cover
Photo courtesy of Alistair Taylor |
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Certificate of Qualification (Navigator)
Photo courtesy of Alistair Taylor |
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Navigator Log Book
Photo courtesy of Alistair Taylor |