Lost wartime aircrew honoured

ANOTHER page was turned by Royal Air Force veterans at York Minster over the weekend to mark the 18,000 aircrew who failed to return from wartime missions to their Yorkshire bases during the Second World War.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Jan 2012, 10:51 BST

The RAF Turning of the Page ceremony of the Book of Remembrance, which is housed at the Minster, takes place four times a year at New Year, April 1 for the anniversary of the formation of the RAF, June 6 to commemorate D-Day and September 15 for Battle of Britain Day.

A page of the book is turned every day, usually by the Minster’s own staff, but on special dates the ceremony is performed by a senior officer or member of the York RAF Association.

Yorkshire was seen as a crucial base during the Second World War for the RAF because of its central location in the country and close proximity to the East Coast.

There were 12 major airfields operating in North Yorkshire alone and around 30 across the whole region. picture: ross parry AGENCY