Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW192 |
Markings | DY-H |
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Buren General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 1-7.. |
Epitaph | LIFE IS ETERNAL LOVE WILL REMAIN IN GOD'S GOOD TIME WE WILL ALL MEET AGAIN |
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 133 |
Service Number | 1388994 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of origin if different | United Kingdom |
Braddock E F (P/O) |
Finch E A (Sgt) |
Hadfield G (Sgt) |
Putt R L (Sgt) |
Reid W A (Sgt) |
Zaccheo E W (P/O) |
Start Date | 16-06-1944 |
End Date | 17-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night raid | Night |
Operation | Sterkrade to bomb a synthetic oil plant, despite a poor local weather forecast The target was indeed covered in thick cloud and the PFF markers were not easily visible. Bombing was scattered as a result and there was little impact on production. The bomber stream passed within 30 miles of the Tame Boar night-fighter beacon that was being used that night, resulting in large bomber losses on the approach. Total losses for the night were 31 aircraft (13.6%) although losses among certain squadrons were higher still- notably 77 Sqn which Lost 7 of its 23 aircraft (30.3%). |
Reason for Loss | Shot about by a night-fighter and exploded, scattering debris over an area including Bourmalsen and Buren, WNW of Tiel, Holland |