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ASHTON CJ
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ASHTON, Cyril

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Handley Page Halifax II
Serial Number JD367
Markings ZA-Z
Memorial information
Burial/Memorial Country Germany
Burial/Memorial Place Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
Grave Reference Coll. grave 26. A. 12-14..
Epitaph
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase 2
Panel Number 124
Enlistment information
Service Number 1399659
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 4
Squadron 10
Trade WOp/AG
Country of origin if different United Kingdom
Last Operation information
Start Date 22-11-1943
End Date 23-11-1943
Takeoff Station Melbourne
Day/Night raid Night
Operation Berlin. 764 aircraft- the largest raid on Berlin so far and the last to include Stirlings which had not fared well in recent raids on the city. Bad weather again kept the night-fighters at bay and as a result 26 aircraft were Lost (3.4%). The target was completely cloud-covered but despite the weather, this was the most successful raid on Berlin of the war. An unseasonably dry spell led to several firestorms and there was an immense area of destruction. At least 3000 houses were destroyed along with 23 industrial premises. 175000 people were bombed out and the list of municipal buildings damaged or destroyed is too long to include. The famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was hit this night- it is a famous landmark in Berlin to this day because it was deliberately only part-restored. Five Siemens factories and the Alkett tank works were destroyed, the latter having been moved to Berlin from the Ruhr after its destruction earlier in the conflict.
Reason for Loss Crashed at Achmer, WSW of Bramsche, Germany