Burbidge, William Laurence
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | William Laurence |
Surname | Burbidge |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 07-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Basil Edmund and Ethel Burbridge, of Southend-On-Sea, Essex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | NN741 |
Markings | PH-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 4. G. 21. |
Epitaph | THEY SAY HE PARTED WELL, AND PAID HIS SCORE, AND SO, GOD BE WITH HIM |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 15 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1880298 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 12 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
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 27/169/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/169/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-03-1945 |
End Date | 08-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Wickenby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (42% moon) |
Operation | Dessau |
Reason for Loss | Take off: 1648. Eye witness reported that NN741 crashed near Neckartenzlingen, a small town on the E bank of the Neckar, 7km NNW from Metzingen. Investigations after the war recorded NN741 was hit by anti-aircraft fire over the village, rapidly lost height, exploded on impact and caught fire. All seven crew were killed. |