Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BK688 |
Markings | HA-A |
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Schaffen Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 12-14.. |
Epitaph | THE DREAMS WE DREAMED WERE NOT TO BE: NOW ONLY PERFECT MEMORIES |
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 172 |
Service Number | 572554 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 218 (Gold Coast) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of origin if different | United Kingdom |
Abbiss L W (F/L) |
Bramble J A (Sgt) |
Davis W A M (F/S) |
Dixon T W (Sgt) |
Howes W R (Sgt) |
Portrey T L (Sgt) |
Start Date | 29-05-1943 |
End Date | 30-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Downham Market |
Day/Night raid | Night |
Operation | Wuppertal. 719 aircraft, 33 losses(4.6%). PFF target marking and the resultant main force bombing was especially accurate, leading to what was probably the first instance of a 'firestorm'. Five of the six largest factories in the town, 211 other industrial premises and almost 4000 homes were completely destroyed. Approximately 3400 deaths- five times greater than any other city raid. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed on Schaffen airfield, Belgium |