Birch, Eric
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Eric |
Surname | Birch |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 25-03-1944 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND650 |
Markings | PH-Y |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 1. D. 5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 9 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1509133 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 12 |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Wickenby Airfield, Wickenby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial with Sculpture of Icarus & Information Board |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Wickenby No1 Group Bomber Command 1942-1945 In memory of one thousand and eighty men of 12 & 626 Squadrons who gave their lives on operations from this airfieldin the offensive against Germany and the liberation of occupied Europe Per ardu |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/168/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/168/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-03-1944 |
End Date | 25-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Wickenby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Berlin |
Reason for Loss | Caught fire in the nose after being hit by flak homebound and well S of track over Duisburg. Abandoned soon afterwards and crashed at Geldern-Veert. |