Little is known of 578353 Sergeant Francis Charles William Bull but his service number is one that was allocated to anyone who entered a regular RAF apprenticeship. He was trained as an apprentice at RAF Halton, Bedfordshire which the training school that provided the hard core of efficient non commissioned officers and airmen up to it's last intake in 1976. Some of the RAF official documents list Frank Bull as a New Zealander although all the information points to him being British.
Frank was the Flight Engineer aboard Lancaster HK-537 belonging to 463 Squadron RAAF. This aircraft crashed along with 83 Squadron 'Lanc' JA-967 over the Danish Island of Als on the night of 28/29th January 1944 near the village of Mjels. All crew members were killed. It is strongly believed the crash was caused by a collision during attacks by a German night fighter. All the crew members were buried in Aabenraa Cemetery on 2nd February 1944 at 7.30am.
Frank Bull's body was found some weeks later and buried in the corner of a field by a local farmer and one of HK-537's propeller blades was used as a tempory headstone having been engraved by the farmer with the text, which loosely translated reads.....
Here lies an English airman
Far from his home and loved ones
29th January 1944
Frank Bull's body was exhumed in 1946 and was re-buried together with the two air crews in Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark.
R.I.P Frank, We will remember.
The crews are remembered annually at the crash site on the 29th January in the small village of Broballe by the faithful Danes.
Frank was the Flight Engineer aboard Lancaster HK-537 belonging to 463 Squadron RAAF. This aircraft crashed along with 83 Squadron 'Lanc' JA-967 over the Danish Island of Als on the night of 28/29th January 1944 near the village of Mjels. All crew members were killed. It is strongly believed the crash was caused by a collision during attacks by a German night fighter. All the crew members were buried in Aabenraa Cemetery on 2nd February 1944 at 7.30am.
Frank Bull's body was found some weeks later and buried in the corner of a field by a local farmer and one of HK-537's propeller blades was used as a tempory headstone having been engraved by the farmer with the text, which loosely translated reads.....
Here lies an English airman
Far from his home and loved ones
29th January 1944
Frank Bull's body was exhumed in 1946 and was re-buried together with the two air crews in Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark.
R.I.P Frank, We will remember.
The crews are remembered annually at the crash site on the 29th January in the small village of Broballe by the faithful Danes.
Little is known of 578353 Sergeant Francis Charles William Bull but his service number is one that was allocated to anyone who entered a regular RAF apprenticeship. He was trained as an apprentice at RAF Halton, Bedfordshire which the training school that provided the hard core of efficient non commissioned officers and airmen up to it's last intake in 1976. Some of the RAF official documents list Frank Bull as a New Zealander although all the information points to him being British.
Frank was the Flight Engineer aboard Lancaster HK-537 belonging to 463 Squadron RAAF. This aircraft crashed along with 83 Squadron 'Lanc' JA-967 over the Danish Island of Als on the night of 28/29th January 1944 near the village of Mjels. All crew members were killed. It is strongly believed the crash was caused by a collision during attacks by a German night fighter. All the crew members were buried in Aabenraa Cemetery on 2nd February 1944 at 7.30am.
Frank Bull's body was found some weeks later and buried in the corner of a field by a local farmer and one of HK-537's propeller blades was used as a tempory headstone having been engraved by the farmer with the text, which loosely translated reads.....
Here lies an English airman
Far from his home and loved ones
29th January 1944
Frank Bull's body was exhumed in 1946 and was re-buried together with the two air crews in Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark.
R.I.P Frank, We will remember.
The crews are remembered annually at the crash site on the 29th January in the small village of Broballe by the faithful Danes.
Frank was the Flight Engineer aboard Lancaster HK-537 belonging to 463 Squadron RAAF. This aircraft crashed along with 83 Squadron 'Lanc' JA-967 over the Danish Island of Als on the night of 28/29th January 1944 near the village of Mjels. All crew members were killed. It is strongly believed the crash was caused by a collision during attacks by a German night fighter. All the crew members were buried in Aabenraa Cemetery on 2nd February 1944 at 7.30am.
Frank Bull's body was found some weeks later and buried in the corner of a field by a local farmer and one of HK-537's propeller blades was used as a tempory headstone having been engraved by the farmer with the text, which loosely translated reads.....
Here lies an English airman
Far from his home and loved ones
29th January 1944
Frank Bull's body was exhumed in 1946 and was re-buried together with the two air crews in Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark.
R.I.P Frank, We will remember.
The crews are remembered annually at the crash site on the 29th January in the small village of Broballe by the faithful Danes.
Inscription
Sergeant Frances William Bull
Flight Engineer
463 Squadron RAAF
Royal Air Force
Gravesite Details
578353
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