Thomas, Willy
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Willy |
Surname | Thomas |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-04-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Thomas, of Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | HK788 |
Markings | WS-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Oxford (Botley) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot H/3. Grave 115. |
Epitaph | AS HE TURNED TO GO AND WAVED HIS HAND IN HIS YOUNG EYES A SUDDEN GLORY SHONE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 106 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1592730 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 9 (IX) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Marys Church, Lyford, Oxfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet and Aircraft Fragment |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of Lancaster HK788 - 8th April 1945 |
Location | Village Green, Bardney, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, Propeller and Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the killed or missing of IX Sqd. 1939 - 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
The wireless operator (Campbell McMillan’s) wife paid for a memorial plaque to the crew to be placed in Lyford church, which is next to the field where HK788 crashed. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/129/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/129/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-04-1945 |
End Date | 08-04-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Bardney |
Day/Night Raid | Night (27% moon) |
Operation | Molbis |
Reason for Loss | Returning from an attack on a refinery near Leipzig the Lancaster caught fire and crashed at Lyford, near Wantage |