RAF Memorial - Montgomery, AL - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

Beginning in 1941, thousands of RAF crew members were trained at Maxwell and Gunter Fields, as well as at auxiliary airfields in the area. The dangers of learning to fly combat aircraft were such that some did not survive. One example comes from the book "Montgomery Aviation" by Billy J. Singleton (Arcadia Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7385-5259-0), page 49: "Cross-country flights at night could prove to be challenging and occasionally dangerous. In May 1942, a flight of 35 aircraft flown by United Kingdom students departed Gunter Field on a navigation training flight to Crestview and Mobile. Returning from Mobile on the last leg of the flight, the formation encountered heavy haze and rain showers. Twelve of the training aircraft crashed, resulting in the loss of seven pilots."

The plaque and the cross are part the memorial. Each grave has a headstone with the information on the individual and some additional words. One example reads: "If I should die -- some corner of a foreign field is a piece forever England"

The site is well maintained. When I took the photos in December, 2012, there were flowers growing among the graves.

The plaque reads:

"Buried here are 78 officers and men of the Royal Air Force who lost their lives whilst training in Montgomery, Alabama during the Second World War.

Nearly 1,000 men who died during that war or the First World War when serving with the forces of Britain or the other Commonwealth countries lie buried in cemeteries across the United States of America.

Their graves and this cross of sacrifice which commemorates them are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission."

The site is open during daylight hours.

Property Permission: Public Access instructions: The site is next to the graves of Hank Williams and his wife, which are often listed in tourist maps. The entrance on Upper Wetumpka Road has a large stone sign indicating the road to the Hank Williams Memorial. Follow the road to the top of the hill. The Access times: From: 6:00 AM To: 6:00 PM Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: Hank Williams Memorial Circle Montgomery, AL USA 36107 Commemoration: Royal Air Force Members Date of Dedication: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Include a photo containing, at minimum, the monument and your GPSr. We'd prefer a photo containing YOU at the monument, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
Also include a bit about your visit here.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   05/21/2023 TaryntheGreek visited it 08/15/2013 j1srus visited it

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