Bliss, John Miller
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Miller |
Surname | Bliss |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 18-11-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of James Miller Bliss and Eleanor Bliss, of Epsom, Surrey. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BK707 |
Markings | LS-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Souain Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave 3-4. |
Epitaph | THERE'S SOME CORNER OF A FOREIGN FIELD THAT IS FOR EVER ENGLAND" OF EPSOM, SURREY (excerpt from Rupert Brooke's 1914 poem "The Soldier") |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 132 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1232224 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 15 (XV) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
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 134th Stirling Lost by 15 Squadron before its conversion to Lancasters |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/70 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/69 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 18-11-1943 |
End Date | 19-11-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (59% moon) |
Operation | Mannheim. 395 aircraft, 23 losses (5.8%). This was one of the larger diversionary raids and accounts for the high losses. By comparison, the main raid (On Berlin) registered 2.0% losses. There was cloud cover over the target and bombing was scattered as a result. Most of the damage fell to the north of the town, where the Daimler Benz car plant suffered a 90% loss in production as a result. 21 deaths on the ground and 7500 people were bombed out. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Souain, France |