Ekins, George Edward
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | George Edward |
Surname | Ekins |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-06-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George and Ellen Ekins, of Derby. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V |
Serial Number | Z6639 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Derby (Nottingham Road) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. F. Grave 1152. |
Epitaph | NEVER IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN CONFLICT WAS SO MUCH OWED BY SO MANY TO SO FEW |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 32 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1817130 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 91 |
Squadron | 24 OTU |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Broadway Tower, Broadway Country Park, Worcestershire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of Whitley Z6639 of 24 OTU which crashed on a training flight on 2nd June 1943 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 02-06-1943 |
End Date | 02-06-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Honeybourne |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training |
Reason for Loss | On a non operational training flight. The weather worsened quickly with low cloud and rainstorms. Airborne crews were recalled to base and we will never know what happened, but the crew was inexperienced and the most likely explanation is that they became disorientated due to the adverse weather and descended to ascertain a position. The Whitley crashed into high ground just 200yds from the Royal Observer Corps post at Broadway Tower at 14.15hrs. and the entire crew except for the rear gunner were killed on impact. He, however, died of his injuries. |