Birks, Frederick William
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Frederick William |
Surname | Birks |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 10-04-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Frederick and Elizabeth Birks, of West Bromwich. Husband of Ivy Myrtle Birks, of Stutton, Yorkshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | NP998 |
Markings | EY-L |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | West Bromwich Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. C. Grave 1279. |
Epitaph | IN LOVING MEMORY OF A DEAR HUSBAND AND DADDY. SOME DAY WE'LL MEET AGAIN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 131 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 56497 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 78 |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
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
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 09-04-1945 |
End Date | 10-04-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Breighton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (10% moon) |
Operation | Stade |
Reason for Loss | Landed at RAF North Creake, Norfolk on its return at 00:37 hrs. The Operations Record Book merely states that the flight engineer and rear gunner baled out over the sea without any comment as to what led them to do so. It goes on the state that the gunner (C/93374 P/O B Hoddinott) was picked up by a fishing vessel whereas Sgt Birks's body washed up at Cromer. |