Briggs, William Edmund
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | William Edmund |
Surname | Briggs |
Gender | M |
Age | 30 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 16-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Joseph and Margaret Briggs, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW418 |
Markings | PT- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Brookwood Military Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 44. J. 5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 135 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/175894 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 420 (Snowy Owl) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside former St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 420 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial, in English & French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 420 (RCAF) Sqn |
Location | Former Control Tower, Tholthorpe Airfield, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 420 Sqn |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 15-03-1944 |
End Date | 16-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Tholthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (69% moon) |
Operation | Stuttgart. 863 aircraft, 37 losses (4.3%). The bomber stream made its approach through France, crossing the German border as late as possible, delaying the point at which the German fighters were able to enter the stream. PFF marking was well short of the target, possibly due to the strong winds as the conditions were clear. Although some of the early bombing fell in the city, much of the later bombing fell outside. Damage was light- 88 deaths and 203 injuries. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak, killing the navigator and injuring the pilot, although the pilot bravely flew on, concealing his injuries from the rest of the crew. The flak also wrecked the starboard inner engine as a result of which the aircraft lost height and was again engaged by flak at 5000'. Sgt N E Ranson, the bomb aimer, assumed the role of navigator and the aircraft was landed safely at Friston airfield, Sussex |