Baum, William George Rex
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | William George Rex |
Surname | Baum |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 24-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Joseph and Enid Courtenay Baum, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | DK184 |
Markings | ZL- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 13. C. 1-6. |
Epitaph | EVER LOVINGLY REMEMBERED BY MOTHER, FATHER AND BROTHERS CAVE AND TREVOR |
Ribbon Stone | 0864 (Block 10, Column 11, Row 4) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 128 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/14701 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 427 (Lion) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed stone tablet |
Memorial Text | In loving memory of F/O Rex W.C. Baum 427 Lion Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/20 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/19 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 727 aircraft, 56 losses (7.9%)- the greatest loss in a single raid so far in the war. Sequential marking was used to keep the main force on course. A Master Bomber approach was also used (W/C J E [Johnny] Fauquier). PFF were unable to locate the centre of Berlin using H2S and instead marked the southern suburbs. The main force arrived late and many cut a corner, making their arrival point incorrect. As might be expected for Berlin, the flak and fighter defences were formidable. Nevertheless, this was the most serious raid on Berlin so far in the war. Much of the government district was badly damaged and 20 ships were also sunk. 854 people were killed, many of whom had failed to take refuge in air raid shelters. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed west of Germandorf, Germany |