Townsend, Francis Eric
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Francis Eric |
Surname | Townsend |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 01-03-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Francis Lea Townsend and Ellen Townsend (née Robinson),of Scarcroft Hill, York. Husband of Gladys Mary Townsend (née Barton), whom he married in York in June 1942. Father of Francis Townsend, born in September 1943. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED592 |
Markings | VN-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Wadenoijen Protestant Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Plot 1. Row A. Coll. grave 1. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 108 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 121412 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 50 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
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 |
Miscellaneous Information
Born December 1920, York. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/30 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/29 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-03-1943 |
End Date | 02-03-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Skellingthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (26% moon) |
Operation | Berlin |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by night-fighter flown by Oblt. Horst Pause of 1./NJG1, at 00.43hrs over De Weerd, 8km East of Tiel and crashed at Wadenoijen, 5kms West South West of Tiel, Holland. |