Forbes, William Alexander
Personal Information
Rank | W/C |
Forename(s) | William Alexander |
Surname | Forbes |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | DSO, DFC |
Date of Death | 21-02-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of James Alexander Forbes and Elizabeth Forbes. Husband of Betty Edna Forbes, of East Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | PB804 |
Markings | JO-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 29. E. 12-14. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 36 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 414219 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 463 (Australian) |
Squadron Motto | Press on regardless |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | SHQ, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | External Clock, Internal Inscribed Brass Plaque |
Memorial Text | A commemorative clock in memory of the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served at RAF Waddington during WW2 |
Location | Memorial Gardens, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Propeller & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served at RAF Waddington during WW2 |
Location | Bar Lane, Waddington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Clock & inscribed Wooden Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial clock to the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served with Bomber Command during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
His DSO appeared without citation in the London Gazette, on 1 March 1946, with effect from 20 February 1945. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1922/15 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1922/11 |
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 | 20-02-1945 |
End Date | 21-02-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Waddington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (68% moon) |
Operation | Gravenhorst |
Reason for Loss | Shot down during an attack on the Mitterland canal, crashing at Mehrigen, near Trier |