Airey, Robert William
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Robert William |
Surname | Airey |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 24-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Sam and Helen Airey, of Mynachty, Cardiff. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW509 |
Markings | EY-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 215. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 121 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1816445 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 78 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Miscellaneous Information
The other crew members became PoW |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/661/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/661/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-02-1944 |
End Date | 25-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Breighton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Schweinfurt- the first raid on this particular target (the centre of ball-bearing manufacture in Germany). 734 aircraft, 33 losses (4.5%). A new tactic was introduced where the bomber force was split into two waves separated by two hours. The first wave Lost 22 aircraft (5.6%) but the second Lost only 11 (3.2%) of which only 4 were shot down. Poor PFF target marking led to local reports quoting 'nominal damage'. Note that there had been a raid comprising 266 8th Air Force B-17s the night before so it is difficult to attribute damage levels. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter on outbound leg and whilst at 23000' and NW of Stuttgart |