Birkett, William Norman
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | William Norman |
Surname | Birkett |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 19-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Alfred William and Annie Birkett, of Darlington, Co. Durham. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax VII |
Serial Number | PP179 |
Markings | DY-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 19. A. 2. |
Epitaph | DEAR SON AND BROTHER "TILL THE DAY BREAKS" |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 131 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1671448 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Catherine's Church Barmby Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in wall mounted wooden case, Sqn Badge above |
Memorial Text | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn Roll of Honour and Sqn badge |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, Easy Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stylised Memorial with inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF and 405 (Vancouver) Sqn RCAF which served at RAF Pocklington during WW2 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/811/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/811/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 18-03-1945 |
End Date | 19-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (31% moon) |
Operation | Witten. 324 aircraft, 8 losses. A successful raid carried out in good conditions. 1081 tons of bombs were dropped, destroying 62% of the built-up area according to a British port-war survey. The Ruhrstahl steelworks and the Mannesmann tube factory were severely damaged. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Dortmund-Brechten |