Birbeck, John Lancelot
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | John Lancelot |
Surname | Birbeck |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 25-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Brigadier John Hugh Birbeck and Maud Isabel Birbeck, of Harleston, Norfolk. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BF567 |
Markings | HA-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hamburg Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 4A. B. 1-5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 131 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 116801 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 218 (Gold Coast) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Mary's Church, Bexwell, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the squadrons based at R.A.F. Downham Market and those who have their lives during the 1939 - 1945 war |
Location | All Saints Church, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH and Sqn Crest |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and scroll remembering the members of the Royal and Polish Air Forces who served at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1351/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1351/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-07-1943 |
End Date | 25-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Downham Market |
Day/Night Raid | Night (42% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg. 791 aircraft, 12 losses (1.5%). Clear conditions over the target and only a light wind. This was the first raid in which Window was used. A mixture of H2S and visual marking was used and although initial bombing was concentrated, creepback was particularly evident with a corridor of fire some 6 miles long developing. Approximately 1500 civilian deaths- the greatest number in a raid outside the reach of Oboe. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed north of Neümunster after being partially abandoned |