Ashdown, Michael Henry Charles
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Michael Henry Charles |
Surname | Ashdown |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Date of Death | 26-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Charles Robert and Ivy Ann Ashdown, of Worcester Park. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | EE892 |
Markings | AA-F |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Worcester Park (Cuddington) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot L. Grave 1273. |
Epitaph | ONE OF THE FEW |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 124 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1320551 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 75 (NZ) |
Squadron Motto | Ake ake kia kaha (For ever and ever be strong) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | A142 Mepal, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Piller and Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Former site of RAF Mepal. Home to No 75 (New Zealand) Sqn, No 3 Gp, Bomber Command, 1943-1945 |
Location | Village Centre, Mepal, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A stone memorial, donated by former members of 75 (NZ) Sqn RAF stationed at Mepal between 1943 and 1945 |
Location | St. Andrews Church, Sutton, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in Wooden Case with brass plaque |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour. Plaque, Presented by 75(NZ) Sqn Association - UK Branch in memory of Comrades named in the Roll of Honour |
Location | St. Marys Church, Feltwell, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Piller and Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | A memorial to 75 (NZ) Sqn, RAF. Formed at RAF Feltwell in April 1940 and flew from there until June 1942. The Sqn number was presented to New Zealand becoming 75 Sqn RNZAF in October 1946 until its disbanding in December 2001. |
Location | Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Remembering No 75 (New Zealand) Sqn, No 3 Gp Bomber Command. RAF Newmarket Heath, November 1942 - June 1943 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/646/38 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/646/37 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-07-1943 |
End Date | 26-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Mepal |
Day/Night Raid | Night (32% moon) |
Operation | Essen. 705 aircraft, 26 losses (3.7%). The commander of the American 8th Air Force was an observer in this raid, aboard an 83 Sqn Lancaster. Window was once again used and the raid was a success with much damage to the industrial eastern part of the city. In particular, the Krupps facility was dealt what was probably the worst blow of the war. Dr Krupp suffered a stroke the following morning from which he never recovered (he would otherwise have been charged with war crimes after the war). 51 other industrial buildings and 2852 homes were destroyed. 500 people were killed, including 22 children. |
Reason for Loss | Came down into the sea off Southwold, Suffolk on return to base. Eye witnesses reported that the aircraft was on fire before it hit the water. |