Search for family of Irish sergeant who died in France during World War II

Thomas ‘Paddy’ Moore died during WWII at only 30 years old

Relatives of Sergeant Air Gunner Thomas “Paddy” Moore are being urged to come forward ahead of the anniversary of the brave Irish man’s death.

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Moore, understood to be a native of Dublin, was serving with the 49 Squadron of the Royal Air Force when his crew's plane was shot down during World War II, killing all seven men on board.

A website for the RAF's 49 squadron describes a memorial in France to Moore and the six other men who died that day: "The memorial is dedicated to the crew of JB 701, a Lancaster of 49 squadron which was shot down over northern France on July 29 1944, after a bombing operation on Stuttgart, Germany."

"All of the crew perished when the plane came down between the villages of St Martin sur Oreuse and La Chapelle sur Oreuse, in the French department of l’Yonne, northern France. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant William Leonard Powell managed to avoid civilian casualties, by bringing the plane down at the side of the road connecting the two villages."

"The remains of the crew were laid to rest in the cemetery at St Martin sur Oreuse, where their graves are now cared for by local people and maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The memorial was inaugurated on the 31st July 2004, just two days after the 60th anniversary of the crash."

The six other casualties are named as Donald Carl Stephens, Geoffrey Edward Franklin, George Edward Kirkpatrick, Albert Stanley Cole, John Frederick West, and William Leonard Powell.

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The grave registration for the seven men (CWGC.org)

Moore's cemetery records are listed online through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The Irish man's service number was 1868952.

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The six other men killed alongside Moore (CWGC.org)

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The Independent reports that relatives of Moore’s fellow crewmen are hoping to make contact with Moore’s relatives in hopes of commemorating the 75th anniversary of the brave Irish man’s death.

Anyone who may have known Sergeant Moore is urged to contact RTE’s Liveline in Ireland at 1 850 715 815.