Trafford

Attended Bradbury Cenral School.    Over 6 feet tall and an all round
athlete.

Volunteered for the RAF September 1939 and sent to Rhodesia for training. 
Arrived back in the UK in May 1940.

Took off from RAF Marston Moor, Yorkshire, in a Halifax Mk II - No. BB265 S
for a night circuit training exercise.   According to the report of W/O
F.W. Crawley, the starboard outer Merlin engine caught fire at 600 feet. 
The petrol feed was turned off immediately and the flames went out. 
However, despite full power being applied, the a/c lost height and crashed
at 20.50 hours just over 3 miles SE of the airfield, near Healaugh.   
Sergeants J.L. Downs and Lewis Rotheray, aged: 34 were killed in the
accident and the four other crew members injured.

Buried 03/02/1943 - Burial No. 11,587.

M.I. - "Treasured memories of a loving son and brother".

Elder brother - George Robert Downs.