BERNARD HUGH STEELE

Bernard is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park.

Born: 1923, Ipswich.

Died: 19th September 1943; age: 20;

Residence: Wayside, Cliff Road, Waldringfield, Suffolk.

Based: Sigonella, Sicily, Italy.

Rank: Flying Officer/Pilot; Service Number: 124799.

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 114 Squadron.

The body was originally buried at Santa Maria Della Pietà Cemetery, Naples, by the Germans. On the 9th October 1944, the body was exhumed, identified and reburied at Naples War Cemetery.

Grave Reference:

III.N.3.

Naples War Cemetery,

Italy.

Father: Charles Hallewell Steele, born January 1878, Torquay, Devonshire.

Mother: Elsie Joyce Steele (nee Pardon), born April 1884, Kingskerwell, Devonshire.

Sister: Helen Joyce Steele, born October 1906, St. Albans, Hertfordshire – died 1906, St. Albans.

Sister: Jennifer Mary Steele, born November 1925, Suffolk.

Probate to Charles Hallewell Steele – father, an engineer, of The Hutch, Bealings, Suffolk.

19th September 1943

Aircraft: Douglas Boston III; Serial Number: AL703; took off from Gerbini Satellite No. 3, Sigonella, Sicily, for a night intruder sortie. AL703 crashed during a strafing attack on Naples-Capodichino Aerodrome; it was thought that the aircraft caught the tops of trees. Bernard Steele, George Robinson and William Turnbull were killed. James Fearn was reported Missing Believed Killed.

CASUALTY ENQUIRY

On the 8th November 1945, the wreckage of the aircraft was found by Searcher Party Officer P/O Wilson, of the Missing Research and Enquiry Service, who read reports of the Carabinieri and civilians stating that three bodies were removed from the wreckage by the Germans and taken to the Santa Maria Della Pietà Cemetery, Naples. P/O Wilson found and questioned the civilians, who in turn produced numerous bones found under the engine at the scene. The engine had previously been buried 6-8ft below the surface, and these remains were recovered when it was dug.

In the Douglas Boston aircraft, the navigator is positioned in the nose, and it is possible that, under the circumstances, any person in the immediate fore-part of the aircraft would be crushed and mutilated beyond recognition.

The bones from the scene of the crashed aircraft, handed over to P/O Wilson, were examined by a Medical Officer at 92nd General Hospital, and identified as parts of legs, parts of torso, parts of arms, parts of skull and were assumed as one complete body.

The bones were taken to the Graves Registration Unit and accepted as one body. They were interred in Naples Military Cemetery, Plot 4, as an “unknown British airman,” pending confirmation of identity. In February 1946, it was accepted that the unknown airman was Canadian James Fearn.

Crew:

George Charles Robinson, Sergeant/Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; age: 34; R.A.F.V.R.

William Turnbull; Sergeant/Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; age: 30; R.A.F.V.R.

James Fearn; Flight Officer/Navigator; age: 26; R.C.A.F.