Shortal, John Lourdes
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | John Lourdes |
Surname | Shortal |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-08-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Edward and Mary Margaret Shortal, of Armadale, Victoria, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | NE135 |
Markings | VN-F |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Bas-Oha Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 97 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 430943 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 50 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | Birchwood Way, Birchwood Estate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial & Inscribed Marble Obolisk |
Memorial Text | To the memory of the Air Crews and Ground Staff who gave their lives whilst serving with No 50 Squadron and No 61 Squadron, 5 group, Bomber Command The Royal Air Force 2nd World War 1939 to 1945. No 50 Squadron "From defence to attack" Operated from Waddi |
Location | Memorial Gardens, Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial with Inscribed Marble Stone |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Skellingthorpe. My brief sweet life is over, My eyes no longer see, No Christmas Trees, No summer walks, No pretty girls for me, I've got the chop - I've had it, My nightly ops are done, Yet in another 100 years I'll still be twenty one. R |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/488/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/488/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-08-1944 |
End Date | 13-08-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Skellingthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (30% moon) |
Operation | Russelsheim |
Reason for Loss | Shot down over Belgium, crashing at Bas-Oha, near Liege, during a largely unsuccessful attack on the Opel factory in Russelsheim |