207 Sqn RAF Association - Corless crew Memorial - Meeuwen 8 May 2005

207 Squadron RAF Association
Corless crew memorial Meeuwen 8 May 2005
Lancaster EM-W ME683

Lunch for the guests presented by the Council of Meeuwen-Gruitrode
at the meeting place 't Heem in Meeuwen
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last updated 2 Jul 2005

taken earlier in the day, on left Joe English 625 Sqn, brother in law of
Sgt Joe Mireault killed in the Corless crew, and his son Allan. They joined us
from a Canadian visit to Holland following last minute contacts.

Kees and Ans Rijken, Honorary Members of 207 Sqn
RAF Association who for many years have tended the
graves of the airmen of 207 Sqn buried at Eindhoven

The speeches that were to be made at the Memorial were instead made after the lunch so generously provided by the Council of Meeuwen-Gruitrode.

Those who spoke were:
The Governor of Limburg
The Mayor of Meeuwen-Gruitrode
Mr Jon Bosmans
Mr Kevin Mapley, Secretary of 207 Sqn RAF Association
Mrs ??, on behalf of the de Casgrande family and relations.

Kevin Mapley presented the town with a print of Lancaster ME683 EM-W, the aircraft in which the Corless crew were shot down.
It was accepted by the Mayor of Meeuwen-Gruitrode, Mr Lode Ceyssens.

Mr Jon Bosmans, on behalf of the local Association for the Study Local History and Tradition, presented Kevin Mapley with an engraved plaque commemorating the dedication of the memorial. It shows a view of the church in which the service took place and the main street through Meeuwen.

On the back it is inscribed:

'To seal our friendship, from De Reengenoten Meeuwen
to 207Squadron RAF Association.
Meeuwen 8 May 2005.'

Rosemary Thwaites thanks the town of Meeuwen and 207 Squadron
RAF Association for enabling the de Casagrande family and relations
to commemorate, on the 60th Anniversary of VE Day the sacrifice
made by Sgt Raphael de Casagrande, navigator killed in the Corless crew.

The senior family members of the Corless crew able to be present:

senior Corless crew family members joined by the younger generations

page last updated 31 Aug 2005