Burnham, Wilfred Henry
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Wilfred Henry |
Surname | Burnham |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 11-01-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Roger Burnham and of Sophia May Burnham (Nee Holthusen), of Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington II |
Serial Number | W5356 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Sunderland (Ryhope Road) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Ward 16. Sec. B.B. Grave 15376. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 139 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 404478 |
Service | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 12 |
Trade | Observer |
Country of Origin | New Zealand |
Other Memorials
Location | Highfields Farm, Wythall, Worcestershire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, Metal Plaque & Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the aircrew of Wellington bomber W5356 12 Squadron R.A.F. Binbrook, Lincolnshire which crashed on 9th January 1942 close to this memorial. The aircraft was returning from an operation in Cherbourg and crash landed in the field due to engine f |
Location | Wickenby Airfield, Wickenby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial with Sculpture of Icarus & Information Board |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Wickenby No1 Group Bomber Command 1942-1945 In memory of one thousand and eighty men of 12 & 626 Squadrons who gave their lives on operations from this airfieldin the offensive against Germany and the liberation of occupied Europe Per ardu |
Miscellaneous Information
Known as Bunny. His family had emigrated to NZ after WWI but many of his extended family still lived in Sunderland and his uncle arranged the funeral, hence his burial location. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/166/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/166/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 09-01-1942 |
End Date | 09-01-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Binbrook |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Cherbourg to bomb shipping and enemy defences |
Reason for Loss | Developed a glycol coolant leak causing the port engine to seize up. The aircraft headed for RAF Wythall but on arriving realised that it was a balloon base and therefore had no runway. Now in serious trouble, the aircraft passed under some high voltage overhead cables and eventually crash landed in a field, hitting an oak tree and causing the aircraft to burst into flames. Burnham sustained horrific injuries and died two days later in Hollymoor Hospital, Birmingham. It remains unclear why the crew didn't head for RAF Pershore or Honiley, both of which were within a few miles and had runways. |