Baylis, Harry William
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Harry William |
Surname | Baylis |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 24-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Arthur and Jenny Baylis, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JB874 |
Markings | EY-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Beverley (Queensgate) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Block 73. Grave 1. |
Epitaph | THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 128 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 136528 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 78 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Hull Bridge, Tickton, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to the Aircrew of 78 Sqn who lost their lives following a collision in fog between two Halifax Bombers BB373 EY-K - JB874 EY-E over Hull Bridge Tickton at 0430 Hrs on 24th August 1943 |
Location | Adjacent to Clubhouse, Breighton Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at this airfield and gave their lives during World War II |
Location | External, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | 78 Sqn 4 Group Bomber Command Yorkshire 1939 - 1945 To All Who Served |
Location | Internal, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Board, Memorial Chapel featuring Cross made from Halifax wreckage |
Memorial Text | The 78 Sqn Memorial in the Churchyard was dedicated by the Bishop of Selby on 7th September 1986. RAF Breighton, two miles from this church was the Sqn's home from June 1943 to May 1945 |
Location | Outside "B" Hangar, RAF Benson, Oxfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of all who have lost their lives serving with 78 Sqn Royal Air Force "Nemo Non Paratus - Nobody Unprepared" |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/660/76 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/660/75 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Breighton |
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 | Instructed to divert to Leconfield on return and collided with Halifax BB373 EY-K while preparing to land. Both aircraft crashed at Hull Bridge, near Beverley, Yorkshire |