Bland, Ernest Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Ernest Arthur |
Surname | Bland |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Ellen Bland, of Dagenham, Essex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | L7527 |
Markings | LS-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 225. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 132 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1896258 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 15 (XV) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John, Beck Row, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on rear external wall of Church |
Memorial Text | In remembrance of all who served at RAF Mildenhall and associated aerodromes in the cause of freedom, 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
This was the first Lancaster to roll off the production line at A. V. Roe. It had been used as a test vehicle and then at 1654 CU. It had flown 353 hours |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/204/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/204/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 26-03-1944 |
End Date | 27-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (9% moon) |
Operation | Essen. 705 aircraft. The German controller had not expected a sudden switch back to Ruhr targets and so the night-fighters were not well placed for interception. As a result the losses were low- 9 aircraft losses (1.3%). Essen was cloud-covered but Oboe could be used due to the proximity to the English coast and target marking was accurate as a result. 48 industrial buildings were seriously damaged and around 1750 houses destroyed. 550 people were killed on the ground. |
Reason for Loss | Believed to have exploded over Aachen, Germany |