RAF Memorial - Montgomery, AL
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member xptwo
N 32° 23.091 W 086° 17.463
16S E 566683 N 3583315
This plaque commemorates the 78 officers and men of the Royal Air Force who died in training in World War II and are buried in Oakwood Annex Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama.
Waymark Code: WMG4KX
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 01/12/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member 3l diesel
Views: 3

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.
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Recent Visits/Logs:
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TaryntheGreek visited RAF Memorial - Montgomery, AL 05/21/2023 TaryntheGreek visited it
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