MOD bid to trace family of Glasgow pilot who died in 1944
The Ministry of Defence has launched an appeal to trace relatives of Flight Sergeant Arthur Binnie Walker
An appeal has been launched to trace any relatives of a pilot who died in a bombing raid on Berlin during the Second World War.
Flight Sergeant Arthur Binnie Walker was on board the Halifax LK709 which failed to return from the raid on January 28, 1944.
The crew of seven were presumed killed in action. Local eyewitnesses reported seeing a Halifax bomber being hit by flak and crashing into a lake at about 3am on January 29.
The bodies of four of the seven crew members were recovered and subsequently buried in a cemetery in Berlin.
In 1959, German newspapers reported the recovery of the wreckage of a Halifax from a lake in the Eastern zone of Berlin together with two sets of human remains which were handed over to British military authorities.
These unidentified remains were then buried in Berlin as "unknown airmen''.
But the headstone is being changed to show that those buried were crew members of the Halifax LK709.
The Ministry of Defence now wants to contact relatives of F/Sgt Walker to attend a re-dedication service later this month.
He was born on January 14, 1923 in Glasgow to Arthur B and Margaret Walker and his last known address was Battlefield Gardens in the city.
Nicola Nash, from the Ministry of Defence's joint casualty and compassionate centre, said: "Unfortunately that's all we've been able to find out about his family and despite our best efforts we have not been able to trace any family members.
"After all these years, we would love to be able to trace his family so that they have the opportunity to attend his burial service on April 27 in Berlin.
"Anyone who believes that they might be related to Flight Sergeant Arthur Binnie Walker, or can help with information to trace them, please contact us.''