I am searching for any living family member(s) of RAF Sgt. Frank Alexander Bandeen (RAF service # 1374522). He was the son of George and Elizabeth Bandeen, of Garlogie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Sgt. Bandeen was the flight engineer on a 57 Squadron Lancaster (DX-Z, serial ED761) which was shot down by a German night fighter in the early morning hours of March 30, 1943 after a bombing operation to Berlin. The Lancaster crashed north of Waverveen in The Netherlands and regrettably, all on board were killed.My father helped with the salvage operations which included taking the remains of the crew to the church in Waverveen where they were then buried.Post-war, the crew were re-interred at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands.
Sgt. Bandeen was not the regular flight engineer for this crew. For reasons unknown, he had replaced the regular flight engineer, Sgt. W. Griffiths, for the March 29-30th operation.Sgt. Bandeens crewmates were,
Pilot Officer A. E. Fisher (pilot)
Sgt. H. Richardson (navigator)
Sgt. R. H. G. Taylor (air bomber)
Sgt. J. Westerdale (wireless operator/air gunner)
Sgt. D. J. Simmonds (air gunner)
Sgt. A. G. Deane (air gunner)
Any help in finding Sgt. Bandeens relatives will be gratefully appreciated.
