Alston, William Arthur George
Personal Information
Rank | LAC |
Forename(s) | William Arthur George |
Surname | Alston |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-09-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Arthur William George and Florence Alston. Husband of Norah Charlotte Florence Alston, of Upper Holloway, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | PB512 |
Markings | 6O- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Brookwood Military Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 21. D. 10. |
Epitaph | GONE FROM US BUT NOT FORGOTTEN NEVER SHALL THY MEMORY FADE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 122 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1509278 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 582 |
Trade | Ground Staff |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Andrew's Church, Greensted Juxta Ongar, Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Scroll |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of Lancaster PB512 of 582 Sqn. R.A.F. 23rd. September 1944 |
Location | Adjacent to former Airfield Site, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to RAF Little Staughton, including 109 Sqn |
Location | All Saints Church, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet & Sqn Badge |
Memorial Text | In memory of 109 and 582 Sqns. At R.A.F. Little Staughton |
Miscellaneous Information
A report into the accident stated: “ The aircraft was engaged in a fighter affiliation exercise, in which the evasive action becomes progressively more violent. The Pilot called to the fighter on the R/T and stated that he was about to turn into the reciprocal course. The aircraft started a steep turn to starboard at 8000 feet, which turned into a diving turn from which the aircraft only levelled out laterally at about 2000 feet, but it failed to pull out of the dive. It was however still diving and went straight into the ground, blowing up on impact. No chutes were seen to leave the aircraft. It was considered that the Pilot got into a high speed dive and did not allow himself sufficient room to pull out of the dive.” |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2101/30 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-09-1944 |
End Date | 23-09-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Little Staughton |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training- fighter affiliation exercise |
Reason for Loss | Reported to have lost control while making a diving turn at 8000' and crashed into the ground, east of North Weald airfield |