A CEREMONY will honour six young Hawker Typhoon pilots who died close to the Isle of Wight returning from daring missions during the D-Day landings.
On Wednesday next week (October 30), wreaths will be laid to remember the pilots who lost their lives while attacking targets in Normandy, in support of the historic military operation.
Two of these pilots, George Rendle and Cecil Leitch, are buried in Parkhurst Military Cemetery in Newport.
The graves, cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), belonged to pilots of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
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George Rendle was only 24 when he died on June 7, 1944, after attacking 11 armoured vehicles in Caen.
His aircraft was hit by ground fire and he was forced to bail out over the English Channel, only to drown.
Cecil Leitch, who had already conducted 17 combat missions, was 22 when he developed engine problems on June 15, 1944, and suffered the same fate as Rendle.
Research shows at least six Typhoon pilots were lost in the English Channel, while supporting Operation Overlord.
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A roll call of the lost will also include Sqn Ldr David George Ross, Flt Sgt Arthur Ernest Holland, Sgt Peter Sayer Barton, and Sgt Kenneth George Hodnett, whose bodies were never recovered.
The Parachute Regiment Association will carry out the ceremonial duties, including playing the Last Post.
The service is at 11.15am.
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