Callan, Neville John
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Neville John |
Surname | Callan |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 25-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Francis John and Gladys Evelena Callan, of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB300 |
Markings | OF-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Choloy War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 1. J. 5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 140 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 415289 |
Service | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 97 (Straits Settlements) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | New Zealand |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window remembering 97 Sqn in the Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby |
Miscellaneous Information
Died of injuries sustained during the crash |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 18-03-1944 |
End Date | 19-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Bourn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 846 aircraft, 22 losses (2.6%). The German controller split the fighters- half went to the diversionary raid at Heligoland and the others met the Frankfurt bomber stream, although cloud preventing them making much of an impact. PFF marking was accurate leading to heavy bombing in central, eastern and western districts. Later bombing was scattered, but this was normal for such a large force due to creepback and also the fact that inexperienced bomber crews were placed at the back of the stream. Lots of cultural buildings were destroyed along with around 5500 houses, 99 industrial premises and 56 public buildings. 421 civilians killed and 55500 bombed out |
Reason for Loss | Crashed in the vicinity of Kaiserlautern, Germany |