Bowman, Fred
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Fred |
Surname | Bowman |
Gender | M |
Age | 31 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 17-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Fredrick and Jessie Oxley Bowman. Husband of Kitty May Bowman, of Pocklington, Yorkshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ642 |
Markings | DY-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Steenderen General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 3-4. |
Epitaph | FATE LIES HID BUT NOT THE DEEDS THAT BRAVE MEN DID |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 134 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1594409 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
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 27/810/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/810/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-06-1944 |
End Date | 17-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Sterkrade to bomb a synthetic oil plant, despite a poor local weather forecast The target was indeed covered in thick cloud and the PFF markers were not easily visible. Bombing was scattered as a result and there was little impact on production. The bomber stream passed within 30 miles of the Tame Boar night-fighter beacon that was being used that night, resulting in large bomber losses on the approach. Total losses for the night were 31 aircraft (13.6%) although losses among certain squadrons were higher still- notably 77 Sqn which Lost 7 of its 23 aircraft (30.3%). |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Luur, Holland |