Biggs, Jack
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Jack |
Surname | Biggs |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 30-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Thomas George and Florence Biggs, of Fulham, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | DV375 |
Markings | VN-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 142. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 9 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1264148 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 50 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Birchwood Way, Birchwood Estate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial & Inscribed Marble Obolisk |
Memorial Text | To the memory of the Air Crews and Ground Staff who gave their lives whilst serving with No 50 Squadron and No 61 Squadron, 5 group, Bomber Command The Royal Air Force 2nd World War 1939 to 1945. No 50 Squadron "From defence to attack" Operated from Waddi |
Location | Memorial Gardens, Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial with Inscribed Marble Stone |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Skellingthorpe. My brief sweet life is over, My eyes no longer see, No Christmas Trees, No summer walks, No pretty girls for me, I've got the chop - I've had it, My nightly ops are done, Yet in another 100 years I'll still be twenty one. R |
Miscellaneous Information
The rear gunner was the sole survivor. F/Sgt Harold Ernest GROVES, Service Number - 424177: Date of birth - 26 July 1923, Singleton, NSW, Australia.Place of enlistment - Sydney. Next of Kin - Albert GROVES (father), Pre-war occupation: grocery shop assistant. The 'Singleton Argus' (7 January 1944) reported his rescue. In the brief account it said Harry had suffered a shrapnel wound to his left thumb, and a shell splinter in his right forearm. Amongst the files that are held on him in the Australian National Archives, one deals with his pre-RAAF service with an Australian Army tank training unit (April-August 1942). |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/48 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/47 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-12-1943 |
End Date | 30-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Skellingthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (11% moon) |
Operation | Berlin |
Reason for Loss | Damaged by flak, the aircraft ditched in the North Sea where a Royal Naval destroyer later rescued the rear gunner |