Flying 12,000 miles, US based Commemorative Air Force has brought one of their period WW2 military aircraft back to Europe for 80th Anniversary Celebrations, and this includes their project ‘Bringing the Boys Home’.
Volunteers have taken hundreds of British gravestone rubbings from men who lost their lives whilst wartime training in the USA and will deliver these into the hands of relatives and museums in the UK for preservation.
Aircraft ‘Ready For Duty’ (pictured) will participate in Guernsey 80th Liberation Day on May 9th (a day after Europe’s VE Day) to be met on the tarmac by the family of Sub Lieutenant Sylvester ‘Sly’ Kenneth Rabey. His rubbing will end 80 years of this family’s story
Sly came from Guernsey and was evacuated to Oldham at 16 before the German invasion and occupation started 30th June 1940. He joined Oldham school’s air training corps and played for Oldham Football Club. Later he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Sub-Lieutenant and was sent to learn to fly in the USA. All his family knew was that he was tragically killed in an accident in North Windham, Maine on 26th January 1944.
The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) found Sly’s memorial at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Cemetery in Maine and located his Guernsey family. His niece, Deputy Sue Aldwell, is responsible for organising the Island’s 80th Liberation celebrations on 9th May this year.
She and her family will be reunited with the rubbing of Sly’s memorial when CAF aircraft ‘Return 4 Duty’ visits the island on 8th May, bringing closure to a family who has wondered on what happened to Sly.
“U.S. and British forces trained and fought valiantly together during World War II. We’re honoured to commemorate their sacrifices and to help ensure their memory endures for future generations,” said CAF President and CEO David Oliver.
“What a wonderful gesture by our American allies,” said 104-year-old Colin Bell, a Royal Air Force bomber pilot, Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, and British flight instructor based in the U.S. during the early years of World War II.
Photo Credit: Karolina Marek, KMAviation
