The Ministry of Defence is trying to trace the Mansfield-area relatives of an RAF airman killed when his aircraft crashed in the Netherlands during the second world war.

Sergeant Gerard Stanley Walters, who was 20 at the time of his death, was born in Stratford, East London, to Albert Sidney and Jane Walters in June 1922 and joined the RAF in November 1940.

On 3rd April, 1943 he was one of seven crew on board an RAF Halifax bomber aircraft, registration DT795, which took off from RAF Lissett, Bridlington.

His aircraft was one of a fleet of 348 airplanes taking part in nightly raids on the Krupps factories in Essen, Germany.

On the home leg, DT795 crashed in the Apeldoorns Canal in Wapenweld, Gelderland, 10km from Zwolle in the Netherlands.

All of the crew died but only three bodies were recovered. The remaining four, including Sgt Walters, were not found.

Human remains and aircraft debris were discovered in September 2014 when the Dutch authorities excavated the crash site.

The MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), part of Defence Business Service, has launched an appeal to try to trace relatives of Sgt Walters.

Louise Dorr, of the JCCC, said: “We know from our records that before joining the RAF, Gerard was employed as a dairy hand and that his last known address was in Stratford, East London.

“We also think he may have had a brother called Albert Reginald Walters, who lived in the Mansfield area. We believe Albert’s children and grandchildren lived in Mansfield at some point or possibly in the Droitwich/Kidderminster/Stourport area of Worcestershire.

“Unfortunately that’s all we’ve been able to find out about his family and where the trail goes cold. Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to trace any family members.

“We would like to track down any of Gerard’s relatives with a view to inviting them to a burial service during 2016, so any help that anyone can give us would be appreciated.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Louise on 07768 888663.