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MILLER GBC
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MILLER, Gifford

Personal Information
Rank F/S
Forename(s) Gifford Benjamin Coles
Surname Miller
Gender M
Age 31
Decorations
Date of death 14-02-1943
Next of kin Son of Benjamin Miller and Jane Miller (née Coles), of Transvaal, South Africa. Husband of Ethel Pring Wyatt Miller (née Perham)- marriage 10 June 1935 in Chard, Somerset.
Aircraft Information
Aircraft Avro Lancaster lll
Serial Number ED450
Markings EA-G
Memorial information
Burial/Memorial Country United Kingdom
Burial/Memorial Place Runnymede Memorial
Grave Reference Panel 138..
Epitaph
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase 1
Panel Number 74
Enlistment information
Service Number 1205929
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 5
Squadron 49
Trade Pilot
Country of origin if different United Kingdom
Fellow Servicemen
Allen F H (Sgt)
Allin R (F/O)
Halsall W (Sgt)
Hands K (Sgt)
Noble W (Sgt)
Young S (Sgt)
Last Operation information
Start Date 13-02-1943
End Date 14-02-1943
Takeoff Station Fiskerton
Day/Night raid Night
Operation Lorient
Reason for Loss Aircraft took off from Fiskerton at 1849 hrs detailed to attack targets at Lorient. Aircraft had been damaged and was making for RAF Harrowbear on return but at 2322hrs collided with barrage balloon cables at 3000 feet and crashed into the sea off Plymouth Sound, Devon. There were no survivors. Divers discovered the wreckage on 13 April 1975 in 15 metres of water and recovered an oleo leg and one Merlin egine. Most of the remaining wreckage has slowly been covered by ongoing repairs to the breakwater over the years.