Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD465 |
Markings | KN-U |
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 1. H. 4.. |
Epitaph | AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM |
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 167 |
Service Number | 1319889 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 77 |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of origin if different | United Kingdom |
Abrams S W (F/S) |
Darrah K W (Sgt) |
Downes A R (Sgt) |
Spence R B (Sgt) |
Wright N W (S/L) |
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Elvington |
Day/Night raid | Night |
Operation | Berlin. 727 aircraft, 56 losses (7.9%)- the greatest loss in a single raid so far in the war. Sequential marking was used to keep the main force on course. A Master Bomber approach was also used (W/C J E [Johnny] Fauquier). PFF were unable to locate the centre of Berlin using H2S and instead marked the southern suburbs. The main force arrived late and many cut a corner, making their arrival point incorrect. As might be expected for Berlin, the flak and fighter defences were formidable. Nevertheless, this was the most serious raid on Berlin so far in the war. Much of the government district was badly damaged and 20 ships were also sunk. 854 people were killed, many of whom had failed to take refuge in air raid shelters. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Biessenthal, Germany |