Birtwistle, Frederick Richard
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Frederick Richard |
Surname | Birtwistle |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 30-03-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frederick James Birtwistle and Olive Birtwistle (née Wagstaff), of Marlow Road, Leicester. Husband of Iris Birtwistle (née Lomas), of Leicester. Marriage April 1941 in Leicester. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | W4175 |
Markings | OF-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Leicester (Gilroes) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. U.U. Grave 534. |
Epitaph | GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 9 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 751476 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 97 (Straits Settlements) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | A153 Roadbridge over River Bain, Tattershall, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of Lancaster WF 4175, 97 Sqn who were killed when the aircraft crashed on Conningsby gasworks on 30th March 1943 returning from Ops to Berlin |
Location | Thorpe Camp, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial with Inscribed Lettering and Sqn Badges |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those who flew from RAF Woodhall Spa during WW2, including 619 Sqn |
Location | Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window remembering 97 Sqn in the Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 10 June 1919. He had been an Estate Agent's Clerk before he enlisted. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/767/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/767/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-03-1943 |
End Date | 30-03-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Woodhall Spa |
Day/Night Raid | Night (40% moon) |
Operation | Berlin |
Reason for Loss | Returned from raid and crashed in Coningsby village whilst in the circuit for Woodhall Spa |