Whitaker, William Butler
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | William Butler |
Surname | Whitaker |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John William Whitaker, and of Ellen Isadore Whitaker, of Fishponds, Gloucestershire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | W4861 |
Markings | PH-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Markelo General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sp. Mem. 'C'. Plot 4. Row B. Grave 10. |
Epitaph | A WORTHY CAUSE, 'TIS NOT OF THIS I THINK BUT THE SON I'VE LOST, TO ME WAR'S GREATEST COST |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 114 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 130596 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 12 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Wickenby Airfield, Wickenby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial with Sculpture of Icarus & Information Board |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Wickenby No1 Group Bomber Command 1942-1945 In memory of one thousand and eighty men of 12 & 626 Squadrons who gave their lives on operations from this airfieldin the offensive against Germany and the liberation of occupied Europe Per ardu |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/167/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/167/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-05-1943 |
End Date | 24-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Wickenby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (78% moon) |
Operation | Dortmund |
Reason for Loss | Attacked by a night fighter flown by Obst August Geiger and exploded and crashed at Markelo in Holland. Geiger claimed 53 Allied aircraft before being killed in September 1943 |