Birley, Alan Fay
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Alan Fay |
Surname | Birley |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-08-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Oscar and Blanche Birley, of Willesden, Middlesex. Husband of Kathleen Margaret Birley, of Newport, Monmouthshire. M.A. (Cantab.). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | W7676 |
Markings | TL-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Middelkerke Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row B. Grave 18. |
Epitaph | M.A. (CANTAB) SCHOLAR C.L.S. AND PEMBROKE. HIS LAST OPERATION-NUREMBERG |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 131 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 118723 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
Trade | Observer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, C |
Location | All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/379/37 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/379/36 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-08-1942 |
End Date | 29-08-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Night (90% moon) |
Operation | Nuremburg. 159 aircraft despatched- incurred 23 (14.5%) losses. Low altitude attack. PFF used target indicators for the first time and were able to place them with great accuracy. Much damage in the Altstadt and the Nazi rally area in the south of the city |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak and crashed into the Westerschelde off the Dutch coast |