Ayres, George William
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | George William |
Surname | Ayres |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-01-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George William and Mary Ann Ayres, of Wrecclesham. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington IC |
Serial Number | W5705 |
Markings | ED-E E-Echo |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Wrecclesham (St. Peter) Churchyard Extension |
Grave Reference | Grave N.25. |
Epitaph | UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY (Song of Solomon 2:17) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 4 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1314327 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 91 |
Squadron | 21 OTU |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Main Gate of UK Fire & Rescue Service College, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | The Fire Service College Moreton in Marsh England, Royal Air Force Moreton-in-Marsh 1941-1959. Long ago it was and yet who amongst us dare forget |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-01-1943 |
End Date | 30-01-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Moreton-in-Marsh |
Day/Night Raid | Night (43% moon) |
Operation | Nickel operation |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak, damaging the starboard engine, while leaflet dropping over Nantes, the Wellington crashed on return near Stroud, Gloucestershire. Despite losing height steadily they made for home using cloud cover as protection in the hope that they would find a landing soon after they reached the English shoreline. After trying without success to raise the alarm at Ashton Down they made for Moreton Vallance. Dangerously low, the pilot gave the order to assume crash positions and the aircraft ploughed in, short of the runway, with the loss of all on board. |