Bertrand, Lorenzo
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Lorenzo |
Surname | Bertrand |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-04-1943 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | HE239 |
Markings | NA-Y |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 12. G. 1. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 130 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1050195 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 428 (Ghost) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to fomer St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed slate tablets |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served on 428 (RCAF) Sqn at Middleton St. George during WWII, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice |
Miscellaneous Information
Sgt. Bertrand's body was found near Holtwick/Haltern am See (Germany) and he was buried at a cemetery near Sythen (Ehrenfriedhof) on 9 April 1943 and later exhumed to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 08-04-1943 |
End Date | 09-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Dalton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (18% moon) |
Operation | Duisburg |
Reason for Loss | Subject to a direct hit from anti-aircraft gun fire on the approach, resulting in the rear turret becoming detached from the fuselage and killing the rear gunner. Despite extensive damage, the pilot decided to press on and drop the bomb-load, following which he found that he was unable to raise the bomb doors due to total loss of hydraulic power. Nevertheless, the crew were able to return the aircraft safely to West Malling, Kent without further injury. |