Georgeson, Gordon Forbes Died
Personal Information
| Rank | W/C |
| Forename(s) | Gordon Forbes |
| Surname | Georgeson |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 33 |
| Decorations | DSO, DFC |
| Date of Death | 27-07-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Forbes Georgeson and Edith G. S. Georgeson, of Muswell Hill, Middlesex. Husband of Margaret Mary Georgeson, of Mill Hill, Middlesex. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
| Serial Number | ND856 |
| Markings | OL-E |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | France |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles |
| Grave Reference | Plot 3. Row E. Coll. grave 17-23. |
| Epitaph | NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH, TO WAKE AGAIN LIKE THE TREES IN GOD'S OWN SPRINGTIME |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 39 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 67077 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 83 |
| Squadron Motto | Strike to defend |
| Trade | Navigator |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | N of village at junction of the D210 & D429 near the war memorial, Surat, 63 - Puy-de-Dome Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed sculptured memorial stone, inscribed metal plaque on bench and painted mural |
| Memorial Text |
Surat a la memoire des aviateurs tombes glorieusement en cette commune pour la Liberte le 27 Juillet 1944
Translation "Surat commemorates the airmen who gloriously fell in this town for Liberty on July 27, 1944" |
| Location | At edge of the D91, close to HT Power Line, Surat, 63 - Puy-de-Dome Prefecture NB: Aircraft Crash Site |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed memorial stone |
| Memorial Text |
Ici un avion de la RAF est tombe en flammes le 28 Juillet 1944
Translation "Here, an RAF plane fell in flames on July 28, 1944." |
| Location | RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | Commemorating 83 Sqn Lancaster, one of the Pathfinder Sqn's operating from RAF Wyton 1942 - 1945 |
| Location | St. Michaels's Church, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Plaque & 83 Sqn Badge |
| Memorial Text | This Chapel was furnished by members and friends of 83 Pathfinder Sqn and is dedicated to the memory of those airmen who lost their lives on flying operations from RAF Coningsby in WWII |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-637
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-637" |
Miscellaneous Information
| DSO Citation, London Gazette, 26 September 1944: "Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross this officer has completed many sorties. He is a navigator of high merit and his technical skill has contributed to a large extent to the operational successes achieved by his flight. He has set a fine example to all". |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/688/14 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/688/14 |
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.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Eggins R K (S/L) | Died |
| Gilmour J (F/L) | Died |
| Maltman W H (Sgt) | Died |
| Marden F A (F/L) | Died |
| Patterson J W (F/O) | Died |
| Pursey G J (F/O) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 26-07-1944 |
| End Date | 27-07-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Coningsby |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
| Operation | Givors |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Mid air collision with the Lancaster ND527 of 630 Sqd and crashed landed in a field at Surat hit a row of trees and caught fire. |