Ludlow, Cyril John Died
Personal Information
| Rank | Sgt |
| Forename(s) | Cyril John |
| Surname | Ludlow |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 22 |
| Date of Death | 29-07-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Ernest John Ludlow and Alice Maud Ludlow (née Hankin), of Wandsworth, London. Brother of Eileen Florence Maud Ludlow, later Garlick, who was also in the RAF. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
| Serial Number | ME864 |
| Markings | DX-E |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | 1. K. 7. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 65 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 1863182 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 57 |
| Squadron Motto | Corpus non animum muto (I change my body, not my spirit) |
| Trade | Flight Engineer |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Sculptures, Inscribed Memeorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
| Memorial Text | In memory of those who gave their lives with 57 and 630 Squadrons 1939 - 1945 |
| Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Stenciled 57 Sqn RoH in site Chapel |
| Memorial Text | In proud memory of the men of No. 57 Squadron who lost their lives operating from Royal Air Force East Kirkby 1943 to 1945 |
| 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- 619-625-626-627-635
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)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-635" |
Miscellaneous Information
| Cyril broke his leg in the crash and his captors bound it with a splint. All surviving crew were taken to a concentration camp but Cyril was taken to Eutingen Town Hall where he was murdered by the Gestapo during interrogation, with a single bullet to the head. Of the three suspects who were later tried for his murder, one (Julius Zorn) committed suicide. Nevertheless, Erwin Rothfuss, a dentist and local Red Cross official, and his son Werner Rothfuss, who had been in attendance at the time- Erwin to tend Cyril's leg and Werner to translate, gave evidence in the trial of Zorn's accomplices but they were acquitted due to lack of evidence. |
| Born 8 Feb 1922 of 857 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, London. His hobby was mechanics and in particular, motorcycles. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/539/14 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/539/14 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Gittoes J M (Sgt) | Died |
| Wardle A V H (F/O) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 28-07-1944 |
| End Date | 29-07-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | East Kirkby |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (56% moon) |
| Operation | Stuttgart |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Shot down over Eutingen, north-east Pforzheim, by a night-fighter flown by Hptm. Heinz Wolfgang Schnauffer of Stab IV./NJG1, his 88th claim. |