Ford, John Edward
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Edward |
Surname | Ford |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 01-03-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John and Lucy Ford, of Headington, Oxford. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | Z1666 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Oxford (Rose Hill) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. G.4. Grave 5. |
Epitaph | |
Ribbon Stone | 0523 (Block 6, Column 24, Row 1) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 36 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 916310 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 92 |
Squadron | 29 OTU |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed stone tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Sgt Pilot J.E. Ford 'Jack' 1917 - 1943 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-03-1943 |
End Date | 02-03-1943 |
Takeoff Station | North Luffenham |
Day/Night Raid | Night (26% moon) |
Operation | Leaflet dropping (Nickel) |
Reason for Loss | Took off 1652 North Luffenham and is assumed to have carried out a successful duty. However, while returning to base it is strongly believed that an electrical fault occurred, leaving the crew without communications. Flying above cloud, the captain was left with two options: abandon the Wellington, or descend through cloud cover in an attempt to establish their position. Sgt. Ford chose the latter and at around 0200 the Wellington smashed into the side of a hill at Widdington Farm, Rushall, near Upavon airfield in Wiltshire and disintegrated. All rest in various cemeteries within the U.K. |