Branscombe, John Viner
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Viner |
Surname | Branscombe |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 03-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Phillip Arthur and Clara Edith Branscombe. Brother of Rachel Theodora Viner Branscombe of Aughton, Lancashire. Husband of Mary Annette Branscombe, of Huyton, Lancashire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | DT738 |
Markings | MH-D |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 10. D. 6. |
Epitaph | TRUSTING IN THE MERCY OF GOD AND BOWING TO HIS HOLY WILL, I MURMUR RESIGNATION |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 135 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 574488 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 51 |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Monument, Bench & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In memory of the airmen of R.A.F. 51 Sqn. (687) and 150 Sqn. (205) between 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Village Hall, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque on external wall |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF Snaith Oct 1942 - Apr 1945 |
Location | St. John the Baptist Church, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sqn Crest & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn Roll of Honour |
Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Monument, Multiple Inscribed Metal Plaques, Propeller Unit |
Memorial Text | In memory of the 687 airmen of 51 Sqn, 4 Gp, Bomber Command who lost their lives flying Halifax bombers Mks 2 and 3 at RAF Snaith between October 1942 and April 1945 |
Location | Stn Church, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in Wooden Case |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour of 51 Sqn |
Location | Grounds of Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF. In proud and undying memory of all ranks killed or missing 1939 - 1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/492/26 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/492/25 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 03-04-1943 |
End Date | 04-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Snaith |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Essen. 348 aircraft, 21 losses (6.0%). The weather was uncertain so PFF had a plan to mark either using sky or ground markers. In the event the conditions were clear but both kinds of marking were used, causing confusion amongst the main force. Nevertheless, bombing was accurate, making this the most successful attack on Essen so far. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed in the target area |