A POIGNANT REMINDER ON THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY

Today we visited Kirknewton in Northumberland and were moved to see the beautifully tended Commonwealth War Graves in St Gregory the Great's Churchyard.

These are the graves of airmen killed while flying from RAF Milfield, Northumberland, ten of them while at 59 Operational Training Unit (59 OTU). They came from the UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand.

It is heartbreaking to see so many young lives cut short, most of them before they even got into combat. And a poignant reminder on the anniversary of VE Day, of how grateful we all should be for their sacrifice.

Here are their details:

Warrant Officer I Class George Harry Neate, RCAF, aged 21 from Edmonton, Alberta. Killed in crash at Howburn Farm, Carham on 6 Nov 1942 while piloting Miles Master Mk.I T8431 of 59 OTU.

Flight-Sergeant Richard Davies Maynard, RCAF, aged 21 from Unionville, Ontario.Killed in crash near Acklington on 14 Jan 1943 while piloting Hurricane Mk.I P3411 of 59 OTU.

Sergeant-Pilot James Henry Hobbs, RAFVR, aged 20 from Bath, Somerset. Killed in landing accident at Milfield 16 Jan 1943 while piloting Hurricane Mk.I AG181 of 59 OTU.

Sergeant-Pilot Murray Allen Dixon, RCAF, aged 19 from Schreiber, Ontario. Killed in crash near Chillingham on 4 Feb 1943 while piloting Hurricane Mk.I V6989 of 59 OTU.

Sergeant-Pilot Robert Handley Maxwell MacFadzean, RAFVR, aged 20 from Montgomery, Alabama. Killed in crash into North Sea off Amble on 27 March 1943 while piloting Hurricane Mk.I W9179 of 59 OTU 

Flight Lieutenant Michael Clifford Knight, RAFVR, aged 22 from Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire. Killed in take-off accident at Milfield on 20 May 1943 while piloting Typhoon Mk.Ib R8709 of 59 OTU where he was an instructor.

Sergeant-Pilot George Robert Dawson, RAFVR, aged 24 from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Killed in crash on 2 June,1943 while piloting Hurricane Mk.I V6860 of 59 OTU.

Sergeant-Pilot Aleck Vincent Jones, RAFVR, aged 23 from Acton Green, Middlesex. Killed in crash at Kimmerston Farm, Milfield on 13 June 1943 while piloting Typhoon Mk.IA R7580 of 59 OTU.

Warrant Officer II Class Donald Mitchell Falck, RCAF, aged 21 from Toronto, Ontario. Killed in crash at Moose Hill, Belford on 29 June 1943 while piloting Hurricane Mk.I P3715 of 59 OTU.

Flight-Sergeant Charles Ivan Humphrey, RNZAF, aged 21 from Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand. Killed in collision while taking off from Milfield on 14 July 1943 while piloting Hurricane Mk.I P3475 of 59 OTU.

Lieutenant-Commander Digby Rex Bell Cosh, DSC, RCNVR, aged 25 from Ottowa, Ontario. Killed during gunnery exercises on Goswick Ranges on 24 June 1944 while piloting Spitfire Mk.Vb EN794 of the Fighter Leader's School, RAF Milfield.

Flying Officer Anthony Bethune Ewart Rutherford, DFC, RAFVR, aged 21 from Cottesloe, Western Australia.Killed in crash on 10 Nov 1944 while piloting Typhoon Mk.Ib EJ955 of 182 squadron, RAF.