Clement, Charles
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Charles |
Surname | Clement |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 10-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Henry and Mary Mildred Clement, of Auburn, Victoria, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND764 |
Markings | OF-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Souzy-La-Briche Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave. |
Epitaph | LOVELY AND PLEASANT IN LIFE, NOBLE IN DEATH. EVER REMEMBERED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 21 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 410193 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 97 (Straits Settlements) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
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
Giddings and Webb were able to bail out but did not survive |
Charles Clement was born in Auckland, Co. Durham 9 August 1921. His parents William Henry Clement and Mary Mildred Burns were married in Auckland in 1918. His father emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on 4 June 1925 aged 27. His occupation was miner at Whitworth Pit, Spennymoor, Co. Durham. His mother Mildred emigrated along with their children on 6 February 1926, aged 24. The children were listed as Masters H., C. and W Clement and Miss M Clement. Charles did 19 operations over enemy territory whilst in Bomber Command. On 9/10 June 1944 the Lancaster III ND764 OF-B took off from Coningsby on a night raid to Etampes. The survivors were: Wireless Operator Robert Henderson Bethel (412476) RAAF (POW no 145 in Stalag Luft VII) and Flight Engineer Arthur Pritchard RAF, who evaded capture and got back to England. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 09-06-1944 |
End Date | 10-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Coningsby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (88% moon) |
Operation | Etampes |
Reason for Loss | Exploded in mid-air after being hit by flak and then attacked by a night-fighter as it went in for its second run. Wreckage being scattered over a wide area near Souzy-la-Briche near Paris |