EBERT GH
Ebert, George Henry
Personal Information
| Rank | F/L |
| Forename(s) | George Henry |
| Surname | Ebert |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 29 |
| Decorations | DFC |
| Date of Death | 06-01-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Henry Charles Ebert and Daisy Ebert (née Turner), of Felsted, Essex, who married early in 1914. Husband of Christina Nelson Ebert (née Parker), whom he married in April 1939. Father of Lesley Elizabeth Ebert, born 28 November 1943, six weeks before her father's death. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
| Serial Number | ED586 |
| Markings | EM-F F-Freddie |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Poland |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | Coll. grave 6. C. 3-12. |
| Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 31 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 49993 |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 207 |
| Squadron Motto | Semper paratus (Always prepared) |
| Trade | Pilot |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | St. Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet and Roll of Honour within wooden case |
| Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and memorial to the members of 207 Sqn RAF who served at RAF Bottesford during WW2 |
| Location | X, Great Steeping, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed group of Memorial Stones with adjacent info board |
| Memorial Text | In memory of 207 Sqn RAF which served at RAF Spilsby and of 10 Sqn Armourers killed in an accident on 10th April 1944 |
| Location | All Saints Church, Great Steeping |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet and Roll of Honour within wooden case |
| Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and memorial to the members of 207 Sqn RAF who served at RAF Spilsby during WW2 |
| Location | Stn Church, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
| Memorial Text | In memory of 207 Sqn RAF which served at RAF Waddington between 1 November 1940 and 18th November 1941 |
| Location | Harby Rd, Langar, Nottinghamshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
| Memorial Text | A memorial to 207 Sqn RAF which served at RAF Langar during WW2 |
| Location | St. Andrew's Church, Langar, Nottinghamshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Brass Plaque & Roll of Honour within wooden case |
| Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and a memorial to the personnel of 207 Sqn RAF who were killed flying from RAF Langar during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
| Born in Guildford registration district in the last quarter of 1914 and was the eldest of six children. Known as Harry. His siblings were: Frank A. Ebert - born 1916 in Guildford registration district, Raymond C. Ebert - born 1920 in Dunmow registration district, Adrian Edward Ebert - born 1926 in Felsted, John Desmond Ebert - born 1929 in Felsted and Joy Mary Lilian Ebert - born 1933 in Felsted. His wife Christina was from Hucknall near Nottingham, close to where Harry was stationed in 1937, as a Sergeant pilot with 98 (Bomber) Squadron. He was posted to 142 Squadron as a replacement pilot in May 1940 as the Germans advanced into the Low Counties due to the very losses the BEF were incurring at the time. On 19 May 1940 he took off in daylight with two other aircraft to attack enemy positions west of Laon. None would return – the crews of the other two aircraft were killed or made PoWs. George was attacked by Me109s and force-landed in Allied territory. Unusually, his crashed aircraft was spotted by a pilot of another Battle squadron who landed and called for assistance. His Observer was wounded and taken to hospital and later died. George and his gunner, Robert Utteridge, were unhurt; Utteridge went on to win a DFM in June but became a PoW. George went on to fly at least four more missions on 23 May, 11 June, 13 June and 14 June. Notably on the 14 June mission he bombed Me 109s at their dispersal points on Evreux aerodrome in a daylight raid. On 16 June George flew back to England with the remnants of the Squadron from France. It had been a dramatic introduction to operational flying. Having flown Fairey Battle light bombers with 142 Squadron during the battle for France, Harry then served as an instructor at 24 Air School in Dunnottar, South Africa, but by 1943 he was again operational, this time serving as with 207 Squadron flying Lancaster Bombers. |
| Harry won his Distinguished Flying Cross in June of 1943. The citation reads: "This officer fought in France, and on his first sortie his aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire, his observer killed, and he himself badly injured. With great perseverance he succeeded in reaching our lines and effected a landing. Subsequently Flight-Lieutenant Ebert has completed a large number of successful sorties. He has always displayed the utmost determination to press home his attacks even on the most heavily defended enemy centres." His medal was presented by His Majesty George VI at Buckingham Palace to Harry's parents on 23 March 1945. |
| This was the aircraft from which Wynford Vaughan-Thomas made his famous recording during an attack on Berlin (recorded 3 September 1943 and broadcast a day later) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1235/2 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1235/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 05-01-1944 |
| End Date | 06-01-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Spilsby |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (82% moon) |
| Operation | Stettin |
| Reason for Loss | Crashed in the target area |