Charlesworth, Alan
Personal Information
Rank | W/O |
Forename(s) | Alan |
Surname | Charlesworth |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 18-11-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Charlie and Sarah Frances Charlesworth, of Widnes, Lancashire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD247 |
Markings | KN-H |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Moy de l'Aisne Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 1. |
Epitaph | "THE SUPREME SACRIFICE" AT REST |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 143 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 969366 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 77 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Memorial windows and Roll of Honour for 77 Sqn. R.A.F. |
Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Column with Metal Sculpture and Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 77 Sqn. R.A.F. City of Lancaster's own |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/656/41 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/656/40 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 18-11-1943 |
End Date | 19-11-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Elvington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (59% moon) |
Operation | Mannheim. 395 aircraft, 23 losses (5.8%). This was one of the larger diversionary raids and accounts for the high losses. By comparison, the main raid (On Berlin) registered 2.0% losses. There was cloud cover over the target and bombing was scattered as a result. Most of the damage fell to the north of the town, where the Daimler Benz car plant suffered a 90% loss in production as a result. 21 deaths on the ground and 7500 people were bombed out. |
Reason for Loss | Severe engine difficulties on return journey. Crashed at Moy de l'Aisne, SSE of St Quentin, France |