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VANDEKERCKHOVE GPC
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VANDEKERCKHOVE, George

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Handley Page Halifax V
Serial Number EB251
Markings ZL-T
Memorial information
Burial/Memorial Country Germany
Burial/Memorial Place Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
Grave Reference Coll. grave 26. D. 1-3..
Epitaph MAY HE REST IN PEACE
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase 2
Panel Number 257
Enlistment information
Service Number J/17326
Service Royal Canadian Air Force
Group 6
Squadron 427 (Lion)
Trade Pilot
Country of origin if different Canada
Last Operation information
Start Date 31-08-1943
End Date 01-09-1943
Takeoff Station Leeming
Day/Night raid Night
Operation Berlin. 622 aircraft, 47 losses (7.6%). Stirling losses were some 16.0% Fighter flares were used by the German night-fighters for the first time to mark the path of the main force both into and out of the target area. This raid was not a success. Cloud, combined with the now familiar problems with the H2S equipment and the effective defences of the city conspired to make the PFF marking very difficult. Creepback was an additional problem and it is said that the fires stretched back some 30 miles! Only 85 homes were destroyed. There were 68 deaths. Goebbels ordered that all children and any adults not engaged in war work be evacuated to the country.
Reason for Loss Shot down near Bramsche, SSE of Lingen, Germany