Balfour, Joseph Smillie
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Joseph Smillie |
Surname | Balfour |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 16-09-1942 |
Next of Kin | Husband of Lizzie Laura Paul Balfour. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | W4179 |
Markings | ZN- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 5. E. 21. |
Epitaph | IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND JOSEPH SMILLIE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 5 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 656517 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 106 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Martin, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet & Roll of Honour in Wooden Case |
Memorial Text | To the memory of the Airmen of 106 Sqn who gave their lives in the 1939-45 War |
Location | Former Airfield Site, Martin Moor, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick moument with inscribed Slate Tablets & Plaques |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to the airmen and airwomen who served on 106 Sqn in WW2. 995 gave their lives |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/832/42 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/832/41 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-09-1942 |
End Date | 17-09-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Coningsby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (42% moon) |
Operation | Essen |
Reason for Loss | Airborne 20:30 from Coningsby to bomb a target in Essen. Crashed at Soers in the NE suburbs of Aachen, where the crew were buried 19 Sep 1942. They have been subsequently re-interred in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. W4179 was delivered to 106 Sqdn 4 Sep 1942. W4179 took part in the following Key Operations: Düsseldorf 10/11 Sep 1942, Bremen 13/14 Sep 1942, Wilhelmshaven 14/15 Sep 1942, Essen 16/17 Sep 1942-Lost When lost this aircraft had a total of 29 hours. W4179 was one of three 106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. |