Branston, Leonard Frank
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Leonard Frank |
Surname | Branston |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 25-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Edward Charles and Nancy Branston, of Vancouver, British Columbia. Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax VII |
Serial Number | NP811 |
Markings | OW-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 13. C. 6. |
Epitaph | TILL WE MEET AGAIN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 135 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/95241 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with Inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Outside Village Hall, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Canadian personnel who served at RAF Linton on Ouse during WW2, including 408 and 426 Sqns RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
The surviving six crew members all became PoW |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-03-1945 |
End Date | 25-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Munster. 175 aircraft, 3 losses. The crews were able to see very little of the results due to smoke cover. The local report says that a very large number of bombs fell but only 2 people died. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak on outbound leg and crashed at Westenfeld, NW of Altenberge, Germany |