Sargent, Walter Leonard
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Walter Leonard |
Surname | Sargent |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Date of Death | 02-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Sargent, of Rostrevor, Co. Down, Northern Ireland. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB401 |
Markings | PM-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 5. D. 14-20. |
Epitaph | OF ROSTREVOR, CO. DOWN, NORTHERN IRELAND |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 94 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1321977 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 103 |
Squadron Motto | Noli me tangere (Touch me not) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | All Saints Church, Elsham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at RAF Elsham Wolds on 103 7 576 Squadrons 1941-45 |
Location | Anglian Water Treatment Works, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Pillar & Plaques |
Memorial Text | Pillar : RAF Elsham Wolds, 1941-1945, For those who made the great sacrifice. Plaque :This tree is dedicated to all those who served with 103 Squadron Royal Air Force. Plaque : RAF Elsham Wolds, Opened in Summer 1941 as a bomber station in No1 group, it w |
Miscellaneous Information
There is an element of doubt about this aircraft number. The ORB states, incorrectly, that JB730 and JB733 crashed from 103 Squadron on this operation. In fact it was JB400 and JB401 but trusted sources differ on which way around the crews were assigned. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/815/24 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/815/23 |
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 | 02-12-1943 |
End Date | 03-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Elsham Wolds |
Day/Night Raid | Night (34% moon) |
Operation | Berlin |
Reason for Loss | At approximately 23:00 hours the Lancaster was seen approaching the village of Philadelphia, Kreis Beeskow at a height of 6,000 feet and on fire, when it suddenly exploded and crashed into woods, north of the railway line and approximately 2kms from the village. All seven crew members were killed in the crash and were originally buried in the Philadelphia Cemetery at Beeskow, Germany before being transferred to the Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery. |