Choloy, France

Details:

30 May 1953 - F/O BC Burns

Comments by Ren L'Ecuyer:

It has been determined that RCAF military personnel who died in Europe between 1952 and the fall of 1954 were initially buried at Chambiere French National Cemetery in Metz. Regretably, the number of RCAF burials during this time period outstripped the capacity to accommodate them at Chambiere, and as a result, remains were exhumed and moved to the expanded RCAF military cemetery at Choloy (circa September 1954).

Official records indicate that F/O BC Burns was the second RCAF casualty in post war Europe.

Extract from 2 Wing Historical Record:

3 June 1953

F/O Fulford represented 2 (F) Wing at the funeral service of F/O Burns of 413 Squadron who lost his life in a motorcycle accident on May 30th in Germany.

Comments by Des Peters:

F/O BC Burns employed with 413 (F) Squadron at 3 Wing, Zweibrucken Germany. He was killed with LAW JG Phillipe, as a result of a motorcycle accident as they left 3 Wing.

Comments by Bob Smith:

I had previously indicated the accident of Burns and Phillipe was on Cobblestone. I was on duty at the Wing Hospital when the call came in. N/S Jean Rowan took the call, summoned the Ambulance and proceeded to the accident site. Burns and Phillipe were completing a date down in Zwiebrucken and were about to return to the base. They were returning not leaving the base and therfore was not a road accident. The Civilian Ambulance took Burns and Phillipe to the Hospital in Zwiebrucken. Burns was DOA. Jacqueline Phillipe lived to the early morning, hence the two dates. For some reason I missed the funerals, probably duty.