Race to find relatives of WWII hero

Relatives of a World War II RAF pilot are being asked to come forward in time for a memorial event in Germany on Saturday, 13 November.

On 6 March 1945, RAF Flight Sergeant Frederick Albert Wall was shot down while attacking an oil plant at Salzbergen, north-west Germany.

Sergeant Wall, together with six crew members, died in the crash and were temporarily buried there before being moved to the Reichswald War Cemetery.

Authorities in Germany are set to unveil a memorial at the crash site on Saturday and would like his relatives to attend the ceremony.

Seeking out his relatives and informing them of this memorial is a fitting way to remember this war hero Cllr Ruth Dombey

Finding family ties

Sutton Council have established that Sergeant Wall's parents were Albert and Kate Wall of Carshalton in south-west London.

However, none of Sergeant Wall's living family are known.

Cllr Ruth Dombey, Deputy Leader of Sutton Council, said, "Sergeant Wall was one of the many brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war effort.

"Seeking out his relatives and informing them of this memorial is a fitting way to remember this war hero. I would appeal to anyone who has any information that they think might be useful to come forward and tell us."

Men of Duty

Sergeant Wall, aged 29 at the time of his death, was a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit 514 Squadron.

Newspapers reported that 119 Lancasters of No 3 Group, accompanied by RAF Mustangs and Spitfires, attacked the Wintershall oil refinery north-west of Munster, Germany, in broad daylight.

Sergeant Wall's Lancaster was the only one to be lost.

Robertos Reckers, 79, from Salzbergen who witnessed the plane crash, said: "I saw an orange fire ball light up the sky and then wreckage from the plane crash into the barn of farm which I lived next door."

Reichswald is Germany's largest Commonwealth War Cemetery

Günther Gratzki, who is organising the memorial service at the crash site on Saturday said: "These men were only doing their duty and I think it is important that we honour them so that others remember their sacrifice."

Wall's service number was 1800217 and he is buried in grave 13.E.7 at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in Germany.

If you have any information on Sergeant Wall or his relatives please contact Kath Shawcross, Sutton Council's borough archivist on 020 8770 4745 or email [e-mail]