Towse, Christopher Danby
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Christopher Danby |
Surname | Towse |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | DFM |
Date of Death | 10-05-1944 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND494 |
Markings | OL-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Evreux Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row B. Grave 14. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 108 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1237476 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 83 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating 83 Sqn Lancaster, one of the Pathfinder Sqn's operating from RAF Wyton 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Michaels's Church, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Plaque & 83 Sqn Badge |
Memorial Text | This Chapel was furnished by members and friends of 83 Pathfinder Sqn and is dedicated to the memory of those airmen who lost their lives on flying operations from RAF Coningsby in WWII |
Miscellaneous Information
Completed 27 operational sorties with 61 Squadron and was on his 5th with 83 Squadron when he perished. Known as Chris by family but as Danny by his crew. It is thought that the other crew members during his 61 Squadron tour had completed the full 30 operations required to be screened from operations and so the entire crew were stood down. He and three of his crew were posted to No. 17 OTU on 23/7/1943 at RAF Silverstone, training new recruits in Wellingtons. |
Born 6/6/1923 and worked on the family’s farm “Tufthill” in Kilham, near Driffield in East Yorkshire. On 25/3/1941, aged 17, he enlisted with RAFVR. |
Towse was born in Driffield, although more likely at his parents’ farm at Kilham. Attended Bridlington School. He enlisted on 25 March 1941 and began his training on 3 October. After his basic training he began his aircrew training with 14 Initial Training Wing at Bridlington and then moved on to 2 Air Gunnery School at Dalcross and 25 OTU at Finningley. His first operational tour was with 61 Sqn at Syerston, from 3 February 1943. By July his crew had completed 25 missions and Towse was posted to No.17 I at Silverstone, as an instructor. He was awarded a DFM in September 1943: “Sergeant Towse has completed 27 successful sorties which include attacks on nearly every major German and Italian target. He has been ever watchful in his turret and his cool, lucid instruction, have enabled his pilot to escape from dangerous situations. Recently when his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the navigator was killed, Sergeant Towse, by his calm behaviour and devotion to duty, was of great assistance to his captain.” Further instructional tours followed and, in March 1944, Towse resumed operational sorties with 83 Sqn. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/688/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/688/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 09-05-1944 |
End Date | 10-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Coningsby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (97% moon) |
Operation | Gennevilliers- to attack the Gnome and Rhone engine plant |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak while at low level in an attack on the Gnome and Rhone factory on the outskirts of Paris. As the aircraft gained height it was attacked by a night fighter flown by Oblt. Walter Prues of 7./NJG 1 - 26 km South East of Lisieux: 1,500m at 01.02hrs (Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.45) |