Watson, Alexander McCracken
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Alexander McCracken |
Surname | Watson |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 02-12-1943 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | DV325 |
Markings | VN-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave 4. J. 13-14. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 112 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 155594 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 50 |
Trade | Navigator |
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
This aircraft was carrying a passenger and third war correspondent to be flying on this operation, Lowell L. Bennett of the Daily Express. He survived the crash to become a PoW. He was able to escape at one point and filed his story but was then recaptured and spent the remainder of the war in captivity. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/48 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/47 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 02-12-1943 |
End Date | 03-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Skellingthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (34% moon) |
Operation | Berlin |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night fighter, the Lancaster crashing in Berlin |