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	Murrey Vernon Peters-Smith

Wing Commander Murrey Vernon Peters-Smith DFC - Service Ref 37207. Born 15th Apri 1916. Royal Air Force 57 Squadron. Died 27th July 1942. Grave Ref 26.J.12 Becklingen, Germany

Above Becklingen Cemetry which contains 2401 war burials, mainly of soldiers and airmen. By nationality they comprise 2086 British. 140 Canadian. 79 Australian.38 New Zealand. 2 South African. 1 Greek, 19 Polish, 5 Russian, 2 Yugoslav and 29 unidentifed.

Above: A missing in action letter sent to Ann Lees by the Commanding Officer of 57 Squadron, RAF Feltwell; Wing Commander 37207 Murrey Vernon Peters-Smith DFC signed on 4th April 1942. He died 3 months later.

Above Murrey Vernon Peters-Smith grave at Becklingen Cemetry near Hanover. The position of the cemetry was chosen at it overlooks Luneberg Heath where Montgomery accepted the German surrender from Admiral Doenitz on 4th May 1945. It is a 'concetration' cemetry, containing re-burials from various sites including small German cemetries as well as prisoner of war camps within a radius of 80km.

Murrey Vernon Peters-Smith joined the RAF on 16th April 1935 on a six-year Short Service Commission. He was graded Pilot Officer on 16th April 1936 and rose to the rank of Squadron Leader by 1st June 1942, being killed less than 2 months later. He was awarded the DFC on 21st November 1941.

He was Commanding Officer, 57 Squadron RAF (based at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk)

to be added

Above RAF Feltwell

His Wellington III bomber [X3653 DX-?] took off 15.30 hrs at RAF Feltwell in an attempt to use the cloud cover to reach Bremen, but crashed. Cause of loss and crash-site are not established. All are buried in Becklingen War Cemetery. W/C Peters-Smith DFC was 57 Sqdn Commander. W/C M.V.Peters-Smith DFC KIA F/O N.E.Hodson RNZAF KIA F/L D.S.S.Low KIA Sgt R.H.Moses KIA Sgt A.T.Drysdale KIA.